r 


BX  7515   .Y4  1883 
Yeakel,  R.  1827-1904. 
Jacob  Albright  and  his  co- 
laborers 


I 


! 


i 


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i 


JACOB  ÄLBR 


AND  HIS 


CO-LABOEEES, 


Compiled,  according  to  the  direction  of  the  General  Conference  of  the 

EVANGELICAL  ASSOCIATION, 

BY 

R.  YEAKEL. 


TRANSLATED  FROM  THE  GERMAN. 


CLEVELAND,  0. 
Publishing  House  of  the  Evangelical  Association^ 
Lauer  &  Yost,  Agents. 

1883. 


Mitered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the,  year  1883,  5y 

LA  UER  &  YOST, 
In  the  office  of  the  Lihrarinn  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


Preface. 


HEN  the  General  Conference  of  the  Evangelical  Associa- 


^  tiou  authorized  the  undersigned  to  compile  a  book 
entitled  :  Albright  and  his  Co-Laborers/'  and  for  this  pur- 
pose to  exhaust  all  sources,"  that  honorable  body,  as  well  as 
the  compiler,  could  not  realize  how  man}'  ditficulties  it 
involved.  The  description  of  these  alone  would  constitute  a 
volume.  The  sainted  Albright  had  written  very  little  besides 
his  Journal,  and  this  was  suffered  to  be  lost  without  an}'  one 
making  an  abstract  of  it.  Many  of  the  fathers  and  mothers, 
who  had  personally  known  the  sainted  founder  of  our  Church, 
had  followed  him  into  eternal  rest,  when  the  undersigned  had 
this  work  assigned  him.  Aside  from  the  highly  respected 
John  Dreisbach,  there  were  very  few  who  could  communicate 
anything  in  a  connected  form.  Father  Dreisbach,  however 
imparted  some  very  valuable  information.  A  large  part  of 
this  volume  originated  from  oral  conversations  with  him, 
which  are  interwoven  in  its  t  jxt.  But  to  exhaust  all  sources  " 
required  much  time,  and  the  study  of  these  sources,  and  the 
arrangement  of  the  results,  was  a  very  difficult  task.  Nor  did 
the  compiler  have  any  special  time  allotted  liim  for  this  pur- 
pose. Other  duties  devolving  upon  him  pressed  him  contin- 
ually into  other  spheres  of  labor.  In  consequence  of  this, 
both  material  and  time  for  this  work  consisted  of  frag- 
ments," and  it  became  almost  an  impossibility  to  complete  it. 
But,  thank  God,  it  is  finished  !  The  unavoidable  imperfec- 
tions of  the  book  are  sensibly  realized  by  the  author  —  thirty 


4 


PEEFAOE. 


years  earlier  it  could  have  been  done  much  better  —  now  we 
must  be  satisfied  with  fragments/  But  if  these  become  as 
precious  and  edifying  to  the  reader,  as  they  were  to  the 
author,  then  all  painstaking  is  richly  rewarded,  and  the  labor 
not  spent  in  vain. 

May  the  God  of  our  fathers  and  their  children  grant  it  ! 


'HE  original  of  the  Life  of  Albright  and  his  Co-Laborers  in 


Grerman,  contains  many  extracts  from  documents  that 
belong  to  a  former  generation.  Accordingly,  the  style  or 
composition  is  somewhat  different  from  the  style  of  that  of 
the  present  day,  and  it  was  not  deemed  proper,  in  a  historical 
work,  to  fully  re-cast  it.  This  principle  was  also  duly 
regarded  b}'  the  translator,  which,  however,  made  the  work  of 
the  translator  and  that  of  the  editor  more  difficult  than  it 
would  have  been  to  re- write  the  book  in  the  English  language. 
Bearing  this  in  mind,  the  intelligent  and  sincere  reader  will, 
no  doubt,  find  these  simple  and  unembellished  life  stories  of 
these  men  of  God  highly  edif3ing  and  spiritually  beneficial, 
as  setting  forth  in  part  the  wonderful  ways  of  God  with  his 
servants  and  his  people.  That  this  book  may  serve  to  show 
to  the  3'ounger  and  English  portion  of  the  Evangelical  Asso- 
ciation "  what  God  hath  wrought "  through  the  fathers,  and 
induce  them  to  seek  and  walk  in  the  same  spirit,  is  the  sin- 
cere prayer  of  R.  Y. 


NoRRiSTowN,  Pa.,  Dec,  1877. 


Preface  to  the  English  Edition, 


GENERAL  INDEX, 


Life  and  Labors  of  the  sainted  J acob  Albright   7 

Olimpses  of  the  Life  and  Labors  of  Rev.  John  Walter.  .  . .  129 

Life,  Experience,  and  Ministerial  Labors  of  George  Miller. .  169 

Life  and  Labors  of  John  Dreisbach   277 

Summary  Appendix. — General  Review   323 

(5) 


LIFE  AND  LABORS 


OF  THE  SAINTED 


THROUGH  THE  GEACE  OP  GOD 

THE  FOUNDER  OF 

THE  EVANGELICAL  ASSOCIATION. 


"HE  IS  A  CHOSEN  VESSEL  UNTO  ME."— Acts  g.  15, 


(7) 


CONTENTS, 


Preface   5-6 

CHAPTER  I. 

Jacob  Albright' s  Temporal  Circumstances. 

His  descent.  —  His  person.  —  His  family.  — Temporal  posses- 
sions  11-16 

CHAPTER  11. 

Albright' s  Abilities. 

Natural  abilities. — Acquired  abilities   17-19 

CHAPTER  IH. 

Albright s  Condition  Prior  to  his  Conversion. 

His  former  Church  relation. — His  moral  condition   20-21 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Conversion  and  Religious  Experience. 

Awakening. — His  repentance. — Fervent  prayer. — Dawn  and  aris- 
ing of  the  Sun  of  Righteousness. — A  good  foundation. —  '  First 
love."   22-34 

CHAPTER  V. 

Church  Relation. 

His  attitude  towards  the  Church.  —  Reception  into  the  M.  E. 
Church   35-40 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Groioth  in  Grace  and  Entire  Sanctification. 

Faithful  use  of  the  means  of  grace.  —  Entire  Sanctification   41-45 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Call  to  the  Ministry. 

Preliminary  steps.  —  The  internal  call. — Procrastination  and 
chastisement. — The  final  decision. — Ready  for  the  itinerancy. — 
Remarkable  fasting   40-59 

(f») 


10 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Reformatory  Lahors  and  Persecutions. 

Wh}' ? — His  first  efforts.  —  He  preaches  in  a  market-place. — 
Among  the  Schwenkfelders. — Further  labors;  the  rage  of  Satan. 
— Albright  preaches  on  the  streets  of  Lebanon,  Pa-. — Sermon  on 
future  judgment. — Further  labors  and  success. — Albright  and 
George  Miller  meet   eO-TS- 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Organization  of  the  Evangelical  Association. 

Albright's  intention. — The  organization  of  classes  or  societies...  76-79/ 

CHAPTER  X. 

Continuation  of  his  Labors  and  his  Ordination. 

Albright  preaches  with  great  power  on  Monday  after  Pentecost. — 
A  "  protracted  meeting." — A  second  "  protracted  meeting." — 
Albright  a  total  abstinence  man. — He  visits  George  Miller. — 
Another  colleague. — Perfecting  the  organization. — An  act  of 
the  royal  priesthood. — "There  is  a  different  spirit  in  this  man." 
—  Preaches  in  P.  Breidenstein's  house.  —  Not  received. — A 
remarkable  protracted  meeting. — What  a  so-called  "Christ" 
did   80-99 

CHAPTER  XI. 

The  First  Conference,  and  Albright's  Final  Labors. 

Albright's  success  hitherto.  —  First  Conference. — Albright  is 
elected  Bishop. — Form  of  the  first  preacher's  license. — Closing 
labors. — "Have  salt  in  yourselves." — His  opinion  about  relig- 
ious services. — "Also  belongs  to  the  profession." — The  black 
heart  of  the  sinner.— Tell  it  to  thy  God. — How  Albright  did  tell 
his  God. — He  prayed  tlie  "Lord's  Prayer."— For  he  was  a  pious 


man. — Remarkable  meetings. — Retrospect   100-115 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Albright  Finishing  his  Work. 

His  sickness. —  His  happy  death. —  His  burial. — Direct  conse- 
quences  116-120 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Closing  Remay^hs. 

What  G.  Miller  says  of  Albright. — The  testimonies  of  John  Dreis- 
bach  and  others. — Closing  words   121-127 


LIFE  AND  LABORS 

—  OF  — 

JACOB  ALBRIGHT. 


CHAPTER  L 
Jacob  Albright's  Descent  and  Temporal  Circumstances. 

HIS  DESCENT. 

JACOB  Albright's  father,  John  Albright,  came 
from  Germany  to  America  in  the  eighteenth 
century — the  year  of  his  immigration  could  not 
be  ascertained — and  located  in  Montgomery  Coun- 
ty, State  of  Pennsylvania,  in  a  region  then  called 
Fuclisherg  (Fox  Mountain),  about  three  miles 
north-west  of  Pottstown.  Here,  on  the  1st  of  May, 
1759,  Jacob  Albright  was  born.  The  house  which 
was  his  first  home,  a  plain,  substantial  two-story 
stone  building,  still  remains.  His  parents  were 
poor.  They  were  compelled  to  labor  hard,  in  order 
to  secure  a  livelihood  for  themselves  and  their 
large  family  on  that  sterile  soil.  The  locality 
still  reminds  one  of  the  Scripture  passage  in  which 
the  seer  prophesies  of  Christ :  ''For  he  shall  grow 

(11) 


12 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


up  before  him  as  a  tender  plant,  and  as  a  root  out 
of  a  dry  ground"  (Isa.  52.  2),  or  of  the  upright 
Nathanael,  who,  when  he  heard  of  the  home  of 
Jesus,  exclaimed  in  astonishment,  "Can  there  any 
good  thing  come  out  of  Nazareth?"  Thus  might 
a  person  if  he  saw  the  neighborhood  whence 
Albright  came,  without  knowing  what  God  hath 
wrought  through  him,  also  ask:  "Can  any  good  or 
great  thing  come  from  Fox  Mountain?"  But, 
from  just  such  localities,  and  out  of  the  poorer 
classes  of  society,  does  God  often  call  his  servants 
and  bring  forth  his  chosen  vessels.  In  this  respect, 
too,  are  his  ways  higher  than  our  ways,  and  not 
rarely  do  they  transcend  our  comprehension. 
Under  such  circumstances  young  Albright  was 
-early  accustomed  to  hard  labor  and  profound  reflec- 
tion. Of  his  youthful  years,  however,  very  little 
is  known.  His  parents  were  members  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  Church.  They  had  their  son 
J acob  baptized  in  his  infancy  by  a  Lutheran  min- 
ister. 

HIS  PERSON. 

In  personal  appearance  Albright  was  fine  and 
prepossessing,  being  rather  taller  than  medium  size. 
He  had  a  high  forehead,  blue,  clear  and  somewhat 
deeply  set  and  penetrating  eyes,  a  well-formed, 
^slightly  bent  nose,  with  mouth  and  chin  in  good 
proportion.  His  face  was  somewhat  narrow  and 
oblong,  his  hair  black,  complexion  fair,  and  body 


JACOB  ALBEiaHT. 


13 


S3mimetrically  formed.  In  him  the  sanguine  and 
choleric  temperaments  were  well  balanced.  His 
movements  were  quick,  but  always  graceful. 
When,  in  later  years,  he  became  a  minister  of  the 
Gospel,  his  personal  appearance  made  such  a  good 
impression  upon  the  people,  that  sometimes  the 
remark  Avas  made:  ''Why,  this  man  looks  like 
an  angel."  His  personal  habits  were  excellent. 
In  his  person  and  dress  he  was  yery  neat  and 
tidy,  always  careful  not  to  blot  anj^thing  when 
engaged  in  writing.  In  everything  he  was  punc- 
tual. When  he  left  his  room  in  the  morning, 
the  bed,  chairs,  etc.,  were  found  in  good  order. 
Cleanliness  and  proper  decorum  were  yery  marked 
in  his  character,  and  he  inculcated  them  as  far  as 
his  influence  extended. 

HIS  FAMILY. 

In  the  year  1785,  hence  in  his  twenty-sixth 
year,  he  entered  into  holy  wedlock  with  Catharine 
Cope,  and  soon  after  moyed  to  Lancaster  Countj'-, 
Pa.  Their  union  was  blessed  with  nine  children, 
of  whom,  however,  only  three — two  sons  and  one 
dau2:hter —  survived  him.  This  dau2:hter,  Sarah, 
the  eldest  of  the  three  children,  was  married 
to  Xoah  Ranck.  The  3'oung  couple  soon  after 
their  marriacre  moved  to  Tioira  County,  Pa.  Both 
were  converted  to  God,  and  one  of  their  sons, 
Jacob  Ranck,  became  a  minister  in  the  Evangelical 
Association. 


14 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OP 


As  Albright  was  once  traveling  from  his  home  to 
.several  appointments,  in  company  with  one  of  his 
co-laborers,  he  remarked  to  him  :  "  It  makes  a  per- 
son feel  sad,  to  go  out  into  the  world  to  preach 
repentance  and  conversion,  when  one's  own  family 
is  yet  unconverted,  but  I  still  have  hope  for  my 
Sarah."    In  this  hope  he  was  not  disappointed. 

Jacob,  the  eldest  son,  died  without  a  family. 
David,  his  youngest  son,  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Mary  Riedenbach,  to  whom  were  born  eleven 
children.  This  son  led  an  intemperate  life,  until  a 
short  time  before  his  death,  when  he  commenced  to 
manifest  some  interest  in  his  salvation.  His  widow 
and  a  few  of  her  children  are  members  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Association  in  Lancaster  County,  Pa. 

The  widow  of  Albright  died  in  1828.  She  lived 
jind  died  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church. 
With  the  work,  and  especially  with  the  great  self- 
denial  of  her  husband,  she  had  no  sympathy  and 
was  the  cause  of  adding  many  hours  of  suffering 
to  his  other  heavy  crosses,  to  which,  of  course, 
the  slanders  that  were  fabricated  against  him  by 
the  enemies  of  Christianity  contributed  not  a 
little. 

TEMPORAL  CIRCUMSTANCES. 

Albright  was  an  industrious  and  thorough  man 
of  business.  Prior  to  his  conversion  and  entrance 
upon  the  ministry,  he  carried  on  the  business  of 
manufacturing  tiles  and  brick.    Inasmuch  as  at 


JACOB  ALBRIGHT. 


15 


that  time  many  buildings  were  covered  with  tiles 
his  business,  which  he  thoroughly  understood,  wa 
very  lucrative,  hence,  within  a  few  3  ears  he  had 
accumulated  sufficient  property  to  secure  the  sup- 
port of  his  family.  As  he  received  but  a  very 
meagre  pecuniary'  support  during  his  ministry,  he 
frequently  returned  home  and  prepared  a  kiln 
-of  brick  or  tiles,  leaving  them  for  his  wife  to  dis- 
pose of,  while  he  went  to  fill  his  appointments. 
In  this  vray  he  supported  his  family  during  his 
itinerancy ;  hence  the  accusations  of  his  enemies, 
that  he  neglected  his  family,  are  false.  Had  he 
not  been  called  into  the  ministrj'  he  would  in  all 
probability  have  become  a  wealthy  man;  for,  not- 
withstanding his  great  sacrifices  for  the  cause  of 
Christ,  his  administrator  reported  his  estate  to  be 
worth  from  three  to  four  thousand  dollars  which, 
at  that  time,  was  considered  quite  a  fortune. 
Through  his  business  he  had  become  widely  known, 
so  that  his  strict  honesty  and  punctuality  com- 
manded the  respect  of  his  neighbors  and  customers, 
among  whom  he  was  known  as  the  "honest  tiler," 
his  account  books,  still  extant,  being  evidence 
how  promptly  he  paid  his  shoemaker,  weaver  and 
others. 

The  "title"  which  the  founder  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Association  won  through  his  business,  is  no 
more  dishonorable  to  him  and  the  Evangelical 
Association  than  it  is  for  Christ  and  his  Church, 


16  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 

that  it  was  said  of  him,  "  Is  not  this  the  carpenter^ 
Mary's  son  ? "  The  Evangelical  Association  had 
no  Doctor  of  Theology  for  her  founder,  yet  by 
the  grace  of  God  she  had  an  "  honest  tiler "  and 
servant  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  her  "  builder."^ 
(1  Cor.  3.  10.) 


JACOB  ALBEIGHT. 


IT 


CHAPTER  IL 


Albright's  Abilities. 


NATURAL  ABILITIES. 


LBRIGHT  naturally  possessed  the  inestima- 


ble gift  of  good,  sound  common-sense.  In  tem- 
poral affairs  he  comprehended  subjects  quickly  and 
usually  correctly,  and  hence  he  often  imparted 
good  and  wholesome  advice.  After  his  under- 
standing had  been  enlightened  by  the  Holy  Spirit, 
he  had  an  unusuallj'  clear  insight  into  Divine 
things.  He  had  a  meditative  mind,  sufficiently 
balanced,  however,  by  a  lively  and  moderately 
choleric  temperament  to  shield  him  from  melan- 
choly. He  possessed  a  large  amount  of  sharp 
mother-wit,  which  at  times  he  used  to  good 
account  against  his  persecutors,  especiall}'  during- 
the  later  years  of  his  life.  His  gift  of  public 
address  also  deserves  to  be  noticed;  although  he 
himself  several  times,  through  extreme  modesty,, 
declared  that  he  possessed  no  such  gift,  yet 
many,  who  heard  him,  testified  that  more  than 
one  talent  was  entrusted  to  him  in  this  respect. 
In  his  sermons  his  utterances  often  flowed  like  a. 
stream,  which  carried  his  auditors  with  him,  and 
even  elicited  the  admiration  and  wonder  of  his 
enemies. 


18 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


ACQUIRED  ABILITIES. 

In  the  times  of  Albright  the  Grerman  schools  in 
Pennsylvania  were  in  a  very  sad  condition.-  The 
State  did  not  concern  itself  about  the  education 
of  the  young ;  the  free  school  system  was  unknown 
at  that  time.  Even  the  private  schools,  in  which 
reading,  writing,  and  arithmetic  were  but  imperfect- 
ly taught, were  of  an  inferior  character.  The  study 
•of  Grammar,  Geography,  and  History  was  un- 
known in  that  section,  and  even  books  and  news- 
papers were  scarce  and  poor.  The  country  was 
still  new,  and  mostly  a  wilderness  in  which  Indians 
and  wild  beasts  roamed  about  at  pleasure.  To 
the  few  higher  schools  only  the  wealthy  could  send 
their  children.  Into  such  a  private  school  Jacob 
Albright  was  sent  by  his  parents,  and  there  learned 
to  read,  write  and  cipher  in  the  German  language. 
But  a  spirit  like  his  does  not  stop  at  such  begin- 
nings, and  if  the  necessary  means  are  lacking,  he 
strives  to  help  himself.  Such  a  course  was  pursued 
by  Albright.  Although  he  had  spent  his  youthful 
years  among  strangers,  where  he  heard  only  the 
Pennsylvania  German  dialect,  yet  he  acquired  a 
fair  knowledge  of  the  German  language,  and  later, 
in  his  preaching,  he  spoke  good  German. 

With  the  help  of  an  English  dictionary  he  also 
mastered  the  English  language  to  such  an  extent, 
that  he  could  deliver  an  English  address,  when 
circumstances  required  it. 


JACOB  ALBSIGHT. 


19 


With  the  exception  of  a  commentary,  which  he 
valued  very  highly,  Albright  had  very  few  books. 
The  Bible,  Catechism  and  Hymn-book  were  a 
great  treasure  to  him. 


20 


LIFE  AND  LABOES  OF 


CHAPTER  III. 
Albright's  Condition  prior  to  his  Conyersion* 

HIS  FORMER  CHURCH  RELATION. 

^LBRIGHT  was  baptized  in  his  infancy  by  a 
Lutheran  minister,-  received  catechetical  in- 
struction according  to  the  doctrines  of  that  Church, 
was  confirmed,  admitted  to  the  Lord's  Supper,  and 
received  as  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church 
in  Douglas  Township,  Montgomery  County,  Pa. 

The  condition  of  the  German  Churches  in  East- 
ern Pennsylvania  was  at  that  time  very  sad.  Noth- 
ing was  known  of  true  conversion.  Prayer-meet- 
ings, Bible  readings,  family  devotions.  Sabbath- 
schools,  revivals,  etc.,  were  entirely  neglected. 
There  was  hardly  any  appearance  of  godliness,  and 
even  when  the  power  of  the  same  would  occa- 
sionally manifest  itself  somewhat,  it  was  decried  as 
fanaticism.  The  salt  (the  Church)  "had  lost  its 
savor,  and  wherewith  should  it  be  salted?" 

HIS  MORAL  CONDITION. 

The  natural  result  following  the  lack  and  denial 
of  spiritual  power  in  the  Church  was,  that  Church- 
members  with  non-Church-members  sunk  into  sin 
and  corruption  —  yea,  sin  reigned  to  a  terrible 
extent,  both  in  the  pulpit  and  out  of  it.  This 
deluge  also  carried  young  Albright  along.  Upon 


JACOB  ALBRIGHT. 


21 


this  point  he  himself  speaks  in  the  following  man- 
ner : 

"I  walked  frivolously  in  the  path  of  a  carnal 
life,  rejoiced  with  those  who  rejoiced,  and  thought 
little  about  the  object  of  human  life,  regarding  not 
the  duty  of  man,  much  less  that  of  a  Christian. 
I  lived  as  though  this  little  span  of  duration  would 
last  eternally,  and  committed  many  sins,  for  which 
God  threatened  servere  punishment." 

It  was  with  Albright,  as  it  was  with  the  majority 
of  Church-members,  who,  after  baptism,  catechet- 
ical instruction,  confirmation,  Lord's  Supper  and 
reception  as  members  in  the  Church  regarded  them- 
selves Hcensed  from  that  time  forth  to  live  in  sin, 
and  instead  of  reforming,  continually  became 
worse. 


22 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


CHAPTER  IV. 


Conversion  and  Religious  Experience. 


AWAKENING. 


'OR  the  grace  of  God  that  bringeth  salvation 


hath  appeared  to  all  men,  teaching  us  that 
denying  ungodliness  and  wordly  lusts,  we  should 
live  soberly,  righteously  and  godly,  in  this  present 
world.' —Titus  2.  11,  12. 

This  forerunning  and  saving  grace  took  hold 
of  Albright,  to  draw  him  out  of  the  horrible  pit 
and  the  mire  of  sin.  The  first  workings  of  the 
saving  grace  of  God  upon  him,  he  describes  in  the 
following  language  :  "  In  such  a  condition  of  heart 
(as  previously  described)  most  persons  seem  to 
be  happy,  perhaps  many  also  thus  judged  of  me. 
While  I  seemed  to  be  contented,  and  cheerful- 
ness was  seen  upon  my  countenance,  yet  I 
was  not  really  happy,  and  I  do  not  believe  that 
a  person  in  such  a  condition  can  be  truly  happy. 
After  the  enjoyment  of  all  the  pleasures  that  the 
world  can  offer,  there  remains  an  aching  void 
within,  and  disquietude  reigns  in  the  heart,  which 
awakens  a  painful  feeling — this  is  the  secret  voice 
of  conscience,  embittering  all  forbidden  pleasures. 
True  joy  and  abiding  happiness  are  realized  only 


JACOB  ALBEiaHT. 


23 


through  a  conscious  presence  of  the  grace  of  God 
in  Christ,  and  a  faithful  discharge  of  duty.  Oh! 
how  often  I  heard  the  whispers  of  this  voice. 
At  times  it  spoke  very  loudly ;  and  when  guilty  of 
some  sinful  action,  or  liaving  left  some  good  deed 
undone,  it  seemed  to  accuse  me,  so  that  I  condemned 
myself  for  disobedience  against  the  precepts  of  vir- 
tue and  the  commandments  of  my  Creator.  At 
first  I  gave  but  little  heed  to  the  voice  of  this 
monitor ;  however,  as  I  still  somewhat  listened  to 
it,  it  repeated  its  admonitions  more  forcibly,  and 
the  more  attention  I  paid  to  it,  the  louder  it  spoke 
in  my  soul,  until  I  finally  began  to  get  an  insight 
into  my  sinful  state,  and  in  an  imperfect  way  I 
resolved  to  reform.  However,  this  resolution 
remained  only  a  plan,  which  was  not  executed,, 
because  the  carnal  mind  opposed  it." 

While  Albright  was  thus  faltering  between  Hght 
and  darkness,  it  pleased  the  Lord,  in  the  year 
1790,  to  afilict  his  family  with  sickness,  and  sev- 
eral of  his  children  died.  He  regarded  this  as  a 
chastisement,  and  realized  that  the  hand  of  the 
Lord  was  heavily  upon  him.  At  the  funeral  of 
his  children  a  Reformed  minister,  named  Anton 
Hautz,  who  had  the  reputation  of  being  a  converted 
man,  officiated.  The  word  of  God  found  way 
to  his  heart,  which  was  already  very  contrite,  so 
that  he  was  deeply  impressed  and  became  willing 
to  seek  the  Lord  immediately. 


24 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OP 


HIS  REPENTANCE. 

'^Knowest  thou  not  that  the  goodness  of  God 
leadeth  thee  to  repentance?" — Rom.  2.  4. 

At  this  time  certain  interventions  of  Divine 
Providence  had  a  great  influence  upon  Albright, 
which  he  describes  as  follows :  "On  several  occa- 
sions I  was  in  great  danger  of  losing  my  life,  but 
was  so  suddenly  and  remarkably  rescued,  that  I 
was  filled  with  astonishment.  Involuntarily  I  felt 
strong  emotions  of  gratitude  to  God  for  his  mer- 
ciful providence,  so  that  my  heart  was  constrained 
to  praise  the  Lord.  However,  as  often  as  I  lifted 
my  eyes  to  heaven,  I  heard  the  voice  of  conscience 
saying,  'You  are  not  worthy  of  salvation;  the 
only  offerings  which  please  God  are  pure  hearts.' 
Oh,  this  humbled  me  deeply." 

In  this  penitent  condition  the  Spirit  of  God 
quickened  in  the  heart  of  Albright  the  truths 
which  he  had  learned  in  his  youth  through  cate- 
chetical instructions,  so  that  the  good  seed  finally 
hegan  to  germinate.  About  this  he  speaks  as  follows : 

God  extended  his  hand  to  me  also  in  other  ways. 
I  had  received  instructions,  in  early  youth,  in  the 
Christian  religion.  Then  I  could  not  comprehend, 
and  did  not  experimentally  realize  the  truth,  still 
from  that  time  there  remained  in  me  a  reverence 
for  God ;  though  dim,  yet  it  extended  so  far,  that 
every  place  where  God  was  worshiped  became 
sacred  to  me,  no  matter  in  what  way  it  was  done. 


JACOB  ALBEIQHT. 


25 


1^0  thought  entered  my  mind,  to  despise  or  mock 
any  person,  irrespective  of  sect,  engaged  in  divine 
worship.  Eeverence  was  the  prompting  cause  that 
I  often  visited  religious  meetings  and  attentively 
listened  to  the  admonitions  of  ministers.  By  means 
of  the  combined  operations  of  the  Gospel,  I  at  last 
learned  to  know  what  was  required  of  me  in  order 
to  fulfill  my  duties  as  a  man,  and  as  a  Christian, 
and  to  stand  justified  before  Him  who  knows  the 
faintest  thought  of  the  heart,  and  before  whom  the 
inmost  recesses  of  it  are  disclosed.  Very  naturally 
the  comparison  between  my  conduct  and  those 
duties  was  now  pressed  upon  my  soul,  and  just  as 
naturally  I  finally  realized  that  I  was  so  far 
•estranged  from  God  that  I  could  not  say  :  '  I  am 
an  unprofitable  servant,  I  have  done  that  which 
was  my  duty  to  do,'  but  was  compelled  to  acknowl- 
edge that  I  was  a  miserable  sinner,  an  enemy  and 
an  offender  against  a  righteous  God  —  a  righteous 
Judge,  who  will  reward  every  good  deed,  and  also 
punish  severely  each  sinful  act;  ah,  yes,  even 
every  sinful  thought !  "' 

"  For  the  word  of  God  is  quick  and  powerful, 
and  sharper  than  any  two-edged  sword." — Heb. 
4.  12. 

Albright's  experience  now  fully  accorded  with 
this  important  passage  of  Scripture.  The  truths 
learned  in  early  life,  and  the  sermons  he  had  heard, 
were  now  quickened  through  God's  Spirit,  and 


26 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


proved  to  him  a  discerner  of  the  thoughts  and  in- 
tents of  the  heart  and  deeds,  so  that  now  the  deep- 
est recesses  of  the  heart  were  disclosed,  and  the 
sentence  of  condemnation  was  passed  by  conscience 
upon  the  entire  sinful  man.  This  produced  wretch- 
edness and  distress,  and  the  process  of  a  painful 
self-condemnation  followed,  which  Albright  de- 
scribes in  the  following  manner :  "  My  condition 
struck  me  With  fear.  God's  judgments  appeared 
before  my  imagination ;  I  was  very  much  depressed 
in  spirit,  so  that  none  of  the  attractions  of  sensual- 
ity afforded  me  pleasure.  The  feeling  of  my  un- 
worthiness  increased  daily,  until  finally,  in  my 
thirty-third  year,  upon  a  certain  day  in  the  month 
of  July,  1791,  it  reached  a  crisis  which  bor- 
dered on  despair.  I  felt  so  weak,  and  my  sins  so 
many,  that  I  could  not  comprehend  how  a  Judge^ 
who  judgeth  a  righteous  judgment,  could  possibly 
allow  me  to  escape  the  abyss  of  damnation.  The 
anxiety  of  my  soul  increased  every  moment,  so 
that  I  was  ready  to  exclaim  :  '  Ye  mountains,  fall 
upon  me,  and  ye  hills,  cover  me.'  How  deeply  I 
regretted  my  past  life,  and  how  widely  different 
I  would  have  lived,  could  I  have  lived  it  over 
again!  I  not  only  realized  my  great  sinfulness^ 
but  this  knowledge  of  sin  was  followed  by  keen 
sorrow,  whereupon  I  immediately  formed  the  reso- 
lution in  future  to  forsake  my  evil  waj^s,  and  so  to 
order  my  life,  that  I  could  at  least  quiet  my  con- 


JiOOB  ALBRIGHT. 


27 


science,  although  I  had  no  hope  of  pardon  for  the 
offences  which  I  had  committed  against  my  Crea- 
tor and  Redeemer/' 

FERVENT  PRAYER. 

."Behold  he  prajeth!"  (Acts  9.  11.)  So  said 
Christ  to  Ananias,  in  order  to  convince  him  that 
the  spirit  of  rebellion  in  Saul  was  subdued,  and 
that  he  was  in  the  act  of  stepping  on  the  Lord's 
side.  So  it  was  also  said  of  Albright,  who  should 
likewise  serve  the  Lord  as  a  chosen  vessel."  He 
was  at  this  time  in  such  anguish  of  soul,  on  account 
of  his  sins,  that  prayer  had  become  to  him  an  in- 
dispensable necessity.  We  again  quote  his  own 
language :  "As  my  heart  realized  this  keen  sense 
of  sorrow,  and  as  this  resolution  to  reform  passed 
before  my  soul,  then  I  also  felt  the  need  of  j)rayer, 
and  of  pouring  out  my  heart  before  God.  I  felt 
that  I  had  power  to  praj'  ardently,  heartily,  and 
with  resignation.  I  fell  upon  my  knees,  and  tears 
of  bitter  sorrow  flowed  down  my  cheeks,  and  a 
lengthy  and  fervent  prayer  ascended  to  the  throne 
of  God  for  grace  and  the  remission  of  my  sins." 
Such  language  furnishes  incontrovertible  proof 
that  Albright's  repentance  was  neither  superficial 
nor  the  work  of  man.  It  was  the  work  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  who  applied  the  word  of  God  and  the 
Divine  law  in  such  a  way  to  his  conscience^ 
that  he  was  brought  into  the  condition  of  the 
awakened  sinner,  which  Paul  describes  in  the  sev- 


•28 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


enth  chapter  of  Romans,  and  like  unto  him  cried 
out :  "  Oh,  wretched  man  that  I  am,  who  shall 
deliver  me  from  the  body  of  this  death  ?  " 

This  godly  sorrow  constrained  Albright,  as  he 
himself  says,  to  fall  down  upon  his  knees  in 
prayer.  (The  lazy  and  God-dishonoring  custom  of 
sitting  during  prayer,  which  is  so  prevalent  in  pub- 
lic worship  in  our  day,  was  unknown  to  the  founder 
of  the  Evangelical  Association.  We  hope  that  no 
member  of  our  Church  will  have  the  effrontery  to 
sit  during  prayer  in  "the  seat  of  the  scornful.") 

The  predominant  characteristics  of  the  life  and 
labors  of  the  founder  of  a  religious  denomination 
measurably  impress  themselves  upon  his  cotempo- 
raries  and  followers.  This  lies  in  the  nature  of 
man.  Albright  passed  through  a  severe  struggle 
in  repentance,  and  was  genuinely  converted,  and 
the  Evangelical  Association  from  the  very  begin- 
ning has  insisted  upon  sound  conversions  and  genu- 
ine religion,  perhaps  more  so  than  other  similar 
sister  Churches.  We  know  of  instances  where 
months,  yea,  even  years,  were  spent  in  the  agonies 
of  repentance.  Like  John  the  Baptist  the  fathers 
demanded  of  penitents  that  they  should  "bring  forth 
fruits  meet  for  repentance,"  and  that  a  change  of 
heart  must  be  shown  by  the  fact  of  a  separation 
from  all  sin  and  sinful  ways  and  sinful  society.  It 
^as  required  that  the  change  be '  perceptible. 
Seekers,"  who  wore  jewelry,  or  were  fashionably 


JACOB  ALBEIGHT. 


attired,  were  at  once  told  that  they  must  be  will- 
ing to  lay  aside  those  worldly  conformities  which 
were  forbidden  in  the  Word  of  God.  Repentance,, 
unless  accompanied  by  a  thorough  change  of  hearty 
and  a  radical  reformation  of  life,  was  not  recognized 
as  genuine.  True  repentance  was  defined  as  a 
"  godly  sorrow  which  worketh  a  repentance  unto 
salvation  not  to  be  repented  of"  Neither  was  any 
one  falsely  comforted,  viz.:  that  he  should  "be- 
lieve "  or  "  hope  "  that  he  was  a  child  of  God,  when 
he  felt  somewhat  relieved  after  shedding  tears. 
It  was  insisted  upon  that  he  must  pass  from  death 
unto  spiritual  life,  and  receive  the  ivitness  of  the 
Spirit  of  God  that  he  is  a  child  of  God.  The  fol- 
lowing excellent  German  stanza  was  frequently 
used : 

Dies  von  Gott  gewirkte  Trauern 
Reisst  von  aller  Suende  los, 
Und  wie  lange  muss  es  dauern? 
Bis  zur  Ruh'  in  Jesu  Schooss." 

May  our  Church  never  exchange  this  Biblical 
foundation,  upon  which  her  founder  rested  his  ex- 
perience and  doctrine,  for  the  superficial  tendencies 
of  the  age ! 

THE  DAWN  AND  RISING  OF  THE  SUN  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS. 

"  But  unto  you  that  fear  my  name  shall  the  Sun 
of  Righteousness  arise  with  healing  in  his  wings.'^ 
—Mai.  4.  2. 


30 


LIFE  AND  LABOES  OF 


Albright  relates  further  :  "  This  persevering 
and  fervent  prayer  brought  me  nearer  the  light  ot 
Divine  grace.  I  realized  power  to  consecrate  my- 
self to  God,  and  to  submit  my  will  entirely  to  the 
Lord." 

During  all  this  time  he  anxiously  watched  his 
every  thought,  every  impression,  and  every  action. 
The  conflict  was  violent,  and  the  travail  of  his  soul 
painful.  He  sought  counsel  of  men,  but  found  lit- 
tle or  no  help,  until  the  Lord  permitted  him  to 
meet  an  unassuming  man,  who  was  to  be  to  him 
what  Ananias  was  to  the  convicted  Saul,  and  that 
aged  Brother  in  the  convent  of  Erfurt  to  the  deep- 
ly stricken  Martin  Luther.  Of  this  the  sainted 
Bishop  Seybert  recorded  the  following  in  a  paragraph 
found  among  his  papers:  "Albright  commenced 
to  weep,  fast  and  pray.  After  he  had  for  some 
time  sought  help  and  counsel  from  God  and  man, 
he  visited  a  man  by  the  name  of  Adam  Riegel,  an 
earnest  and  zealous  minister,  not,  however,  con- 
nected with  any  religious  denomination.  This 
man  at  once  took  an  interest  in  him,  and  prayed 
and  labored  with  him  until  he  realized  the  pardon 
of  his  sins,  and  eternal  life,  and  hence,  found  peace, 
comfort  and  joy  in  the  blood  of  Christ,  and  was 
so  overwhelmingly  filled  with  Divine  joy,  that  he 
knew  not  how  he  should  adequately  praise  and 
magnify  the  Lord."  This  occurred  in  the  house 
of  Adam  Riegel. 


JACOB  ALBRIGHT. 


31 


This  report  of  Bishop  Seybert,  who  was  born 
and  raised  in  the  vicinity  of  the  sainted  Albright's 
home,  and  for  some  time  his  cotemporary,  should 
certainly  silence  the  unauthenticated  statements 
that  Albright  was  converted  in  a  Methodist  meet- 
ing, held  in  the  house  of  a  Mr.  Butterfield,  or  that 
he  was  brought  to  Christ  through  the  labors  of  the 
United  Brethren  in  Christ. 

Albright  himself  describes  his  conversion  in  the 
following  words  :  "  In  the  place  of  carnality  came 
•a  holy  love  to  God,  his  Word,  and  all  his  true  chil- 
dren. Gradually  every  anguish  of  heart  was  re- 
moved, and  comfort  and  the  blessed  peace  of  God 
pervaded  my  soul.  God's  Spirit  bore  witness 
with  my  spirit,  that  I  was  a  child  of  God ;  one 
joyful  experience  following  another,  and  such  a 
sweet  peace  now  filled  my  soul  as  no  pen  can  de- 
scribe, or  mortal  tongue  can  express,  in  comparison 
with  which  the  greatest  earthly  happiness  I  pre- 
viously enjoyed,  was  only  wretchedness  and  deceit. 
Now  my  prayer  was  not  mere  supplication,  but 
praise  and  hearty  thanksgiving  were  also  brought 
as  an  ojBfering,  accompanied  with  tears  of  joy,  to 
,     the  Giver  of  every  good  gift."  >- 

Thus  was  fulfilled  what  AKright  formerly  said 
of  the  hope  which  occasionally  afforded  him  some 
comfort  in  his  distress,  viz.:  "  That  God  does  not 
desire  the  death  of  the  wicked,  but  rather  that  he 
jshould  turn  and  live ;  and  that  he  graciously  looks 


32 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


upon  a  broken  heart,  and  will  also  complete  the 
work  of  grace  for  Jesus'  sake." 

THE   GOOD  FOUNDATION. 

The  work  of  justification  and  regeneration  wa& 
now  wrought  in  Albright  by  the  power  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and  this  work  the  holy  Spirit  sealed  with 
his  own  seal.  Thus  the  foundation  of  sanctificatioa 
and  Christian  perfection  was  laid,  and  also  the 
fundamental  key-note  of  his  future  preaching  and 
labors  was  struck  in  the  depth  of  his  soul.  At 
that  time  a  thorough  experience  in  Divine  things 
was  the  exception,  both  in  German  and  English 
Churches.  Hence,  in  order  to  influence  others  suc- 
cessfully, it  was  necessary  that  Albright  should 
first  realize  this  great  deficiency  in  himself,  and 
also  become  experimentally  acquainted  with  the 
source  whence  to  supply  this  lack. 

IN  HIS  "FIRST  LOVE." 

Albright  was  now  happily  rescued  from  the  mire- 
of  sin,  and  his  feet  were  set  upon  Christ,  the  Rock  of 
salvation.  A  new  song  was  put  into  his  mouth, 
even  praises  unto  his  God.  He  now  realized  an 
intense  desire  that  his  neighbors  and  friends  should 
also  taste  that  the  Lord  is  good,  and  learn  to  fear 
his  name. 

In  those  days  the  people,  generally,  were  very 
plain  and  simple,  both  in  their  deportment  and 
speech.  French  customs  and  fashionable  etiquette 
were  entirely  unknown  in  the  surroundings  of 


JACOB  ALBEIÖHT. 


33 


Albright;  hence,  on  the  same  day  in  which  he 
was  saved,  without  consulting  tlesh  and  blood,  he 
put  forth  efforts  to  win  .souls  to  Christ.  Concern- 
ing this  zeal  for  souls  manifested  hy  Albright,  we 
find  the  following  paragraph  in  the  writings  of 
Bishop  Seybert:  '*  As  Albright  went  rejoicingly 
from  Riegel's  house  toward  Iiis  home,  he  met  a 
Dunkard  preacher,  to  whom  he  said,  ^  You  must  be 
born  again,  or  you  will  be  damned.'  The  preacher 
became  very  much  alarmed  and  embarrassed,  and 
afterwards  complained  to  Riegel  that  Albright  had 
thus  addressed  him.  Riegel,  however,  replied, 
^  There  is  no  other  way.'  These  blunt  remarks 
did  good  service  to  this  minister,  who  had  only  the 
form  of  godliness,  but  whether  they  resulted  in  his 
conversion  is  not  known." 

Albright  now  served  God  with  intense  zeal  and 
with  great  joy.  We  give  his  experience  in  his  own 
language:  "Doing  the  will  of  God  was  now  not 
grievous,  for  I  hated  sin,  and  served  the  Lord  with 
much  joy,  and  frequently  was  greatly  blessed  while 
communing  with  God  in  prayer."  Bishop  Seybert 
records  on  this  point :  "  After  Albright's  conver- 
sion, Riegel  and  he  had  blessed  seasons  together  in 
preaching,  prayer  and  devotional  services  in  Rie- 
gel's house,  and  at  other  places." 

At  this  time  there  was  an  important  revival  in 

progress  in  Lancaster  County,  but  the  penitents 

and  converts  were  greatly  persecuted,  and  expelled 
3 


34 


LIFE  AND  LABOES  OF 


from  their  respective  Churches.  These  rejected 
ones  then  sought  out  each  other,  and  endeavored 
mutually  to  edify  one  another,  as  well  as  it  could 
be  done  under  the  circumstances. 


JACOB  ALBRIGHT. 


35 


CHAPTER  V. 


Ecclesiastical  Relations. 


ALBRIGHT'S  RELATION  TO  THE  CHURCH. 


<<T70R  I  had  gone  with  the  multitude,  I  went 


with  them  to  the  house  of  God,  with  the 
voice  of  joy  and  praise." — Ps.  42.  4. 

Inasmuch  as  Albright  was  naturally  a  punctual 
and  methodical  man,  he  did  not  like  to  stand  aloof 
from  Church  connection  and  discipline.  He  saw 
danger  in  standing  alone,  and  also  realized  that  he 
was  in  need  of  the  watchful  care  and  encouragement 
of  his  brethren  in  Christ.  He  says  :  "  After  I  had 
experienced  the  grace  of  regeneration,  I  soon  rec- 
ognized the  fact  that  the  surest  and  best  way  to 
work  out  my  soul's  salvation,  and  to  be  ready  at 
all  times  to  fight  the  good  fight  of  faith,  was,  to  be 
in  fellowship  with  devout  Christians,  and  to  take 
part  in  bearing  the  cross,  to  pray  for  and  with  one 
another,  to  be  vigilant  and  edify  each  other  by 
means  of  an  exemplary  life  in  the  service  of  God." 
Truly,  this  was  an  excellent  view. 

Albright  had  no  desire  to  stand  aloof  from  the 
Church,  and  to  labor  independently  for  the  sake 
of  personal  aggrandizement,  as  has  been  falsely 
asserted  of  him.  This  thought  never  entered  his 
mind;  but,  on  the  contrary,  he  preferred  to  serve 


36 


God,  and  to  bear  \he  cross  in  fellowship  with  other 
pious  Christians.  -But  because  he  was  persecuted 
and  decried  as  a  fanatic  by  those  who  lived  in  sin^ 
in  his  own  (Lutheran)  Church,  he  found  it  neces- 
sary  to  seek  association  with  other  Christians. 

What  the  real  condition  of  things  was  at  that 
thne,  we  will  permit  Bishop  Seybert  to  relate : 
"  Meanwhile  the  twilight  of  a  better  day  began  to 
dawn  and  bj:eak  forth  in  glory  amongst  the  Ger- 
man peoplely  A  Mennonite  minister  by  the  name  of 
Jacob  Boehm,  was  converted  to  God,  on  account  of 
which  he  was  rejected  and  expelled  by  his  brethren 
in  office.  But  he  would  not  keep  silent;  he  preached 
and  ministered  very  successfully  to  immense  con- 
2;re«;ations.         ^  ^ 


^  "  Another  man  named  Neidig,  also  a  Mennonite, 
was  converted  and  likewise  rejected  by  his  breth- 
ren, but  he  too  became  a  powerful  and  spiritual 
minister  in  Dauphin  Co.,  Pa.,  and  still  another  by 
the  name  of  Newcomer,  who  in  later  years  be- 
came Bishop  among  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ. 
^  "  In  the  City  of  Baltimore,  in  the  State  of  Marj^- 
land,  a  man  by  the  name  of  Otterbein  was  con- 
verted. He,  too,  was  j-ejected  by  his  brethren  in 
office,  but  they  could  not  remove  him  from  his 
charge,  because  his  flock  clung  to  him  in  great 
love.  He  labored  successfully  in  city  and  country, 
and  many,  of  whom  several  became  useful  minis- 
ters were  converted  to  God  through  the  instru- 


JACOB  ALBRIGHT. 


mentality  of  his  preaching.  Another  man,  named 
Troxel,  also  labored  very  efficiently. 

''  At  this  time  (soon  after  Albright's  conversion) 
there  was  a  revival  in  that  community.  During 
this  revival  Adam  Riegel's  children  were  converted 
to  God,  besides  others,  young  and  old,  throughout 
Lancaster  County.  This  revival  produced  some 
wide-awake  ministers,  such  as  Abraham  and 
Christian  Hirschy,  —  Grosch,  Christian  Smith ;  and 
in  Lebanon  County,  Felix  Light.  Out  of  these 
^nd  others  a  kind  of  Association  originated,  which 
at  first  bore  a  variety  of  names ;  sometimes  they 
were  called  Otterbein's  people,  Boelimish  people, 
Impartial  people.  General,  and  also  Independent 
people,  because  they  would  not  submit  themselves 
to  Church  Discipline  or  regulations.  Each  one 
wished  to  stand  alone,  however  to  be  united  in 
spirit  and  mutual  labor ;  but  riper  experience  taught 
them  that  without  an  external  organization  and 
good  discipline,  no  religious  Association  could  en- 
dure and  prosper.  Hence,  from  this  time  forth, 
the  people  referred  to  above  adopted  the  name 
"The  United  Brethren  in  Christ." 

ALBRIGHT'S   RECEPTION   INTO  THE   METHODIST  EPISCOPAL 

CHURCH. 

Albright  looked  around  to  find  a  Church  that 
served  God  and  upheld  good  discipline,  with  which 
he  could  unite.  The  people  mentioned  by  Bishop 
Seybert  entirely  ignored  Church  Discipline,  of 


38 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


which  Albright  could  not  approve.  We  quote  his 
own  language :  "  At  this  time  I  knew  of  no 
Association  of  professed  Christians  who  seemed  to 
be  more  zealous  and  active,  and  whose  Discipline 
and  regulations  suited  me  better,  than  the  Metho- 
dists. For  this  reason  I  united  with  them,  and 
found  among  them  opportunity  to  receive  great 
blessings  and  benefit  for  my  soul.  As  many  things 
in  their  mode  of  worship  were  not  yet  clear  to  me, 
since  it  was  conducted  in  the  English  language, 
with  which  I  was  not  sufficiently  familiar  at  this 
time,  I  earnestly  endeavored  to  become  acquainted 
with  their  doctrine  and  Discipline,  with  which  I 
was  much  pleased.  I  conformed  to  its  regulations 
both  in  my  conduct  and  devotions." 

The  condition  of  religion  among  the  Methodists 
at  this  time,  Bishop  Seybert  reports  as  follows : 
"Among  the  English  people  many  were  truly  con- 
verted to  God,  and  belonged  to  the  Methodist 
Church,  leading  a  humble.  Christian  life,  serving 
God  in  spirit,  and  their  preachers  preaching  power- 
fully. These  were  a  blessing  to  the  nation,  and 
brought  many  to  a  change  of  heart  and  mind.  But 
wherever  these  people  served  God  zealously  and 
led  holy  lives,  they  were  hated  and  persecuted  by 
the  world." 

Thus  Albright  became  a  Methodist  —  not  in 
order  to  become  popular  and  get  into  office  in  this 
Churchy  for  this  there  was  no  prospect  for  a  Ger- 


JACOB  ALBRIGHT. 


39 


man  man,  neither  did  he  do  so  to  escape  persecu- 
tions and  trials,  for  the  Methodists  at  this  time 
were  very  much  persecuted,  but  he  was  willing  to 
bear  his  share  of  reproach  for  Christ ;  nor  did  he 
take  this  step  because  he  regarded  himself  bet- 
ter than  his  German  brethren,  who,  together 
with  him  were  also  converted  to  God,  but  because, 
soon  after  his  conversion,  ^"he  realized''  that  it  was 
Scriptural,  and  the  "surest  loay^  in  order  to  work 
out  his  soul's  salvation,  to  be  under  good  discipline." 
This  is  strong  evidence  of  his  good  common-sense, 
and  the  manly  steadfastness  of  his  character  and 
religious  views.  What  other  wise  and  devotedly 
pious  men  learned  only  by  years  of  experience,  he 
comprehended  at  once  very  clearly,  and  acted  ac- 
cordingly, although  he  was,  at  the  time,  severely 
censured  by  many  professing  Christians. 

Should  not  the  Evangelical  Association,  which 
is  blessed  with  an  unexcelled  Church  Discipline^ 
like  unto  her  founder  prize  it  highly,  and  adminis- 
ter it  faithfully  ?  This  beautiful  vineyard,  which 
the  fathers  enclosed  with  so  much  labor  and  care, 
and  which  hitherto  has  borne  precious  fruit,  will 
become  a  waste,  and  fall  a  prey  to  "  wild  beasts  '* 
if  its  hedges  are  neglected  ! 

As  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  Albright's 
name  was  recorded  in  a  class  in  his  immediate 
neighborhood,  which  held  its  prayer  and  class- 
meetings  in  the  house  of  Isaac  Davies,  whose  farm 


40 


LIFE  AND  LABOES  OF 


adjoined  Albright's.  This  Isaac  Davies  (grand- 
father, on  the  mother  s  side,  of  Rev.  D.  Hambright, 
of  the  East  Pennsylvania  Conference)  was  class- 
leader.* 


*)  It  is  perhaps  proper,  at  this  juncture,  to  state  that  Albright  was 
never  expelled  from  the  M.  E.  Church;  there  were  no  charges  preferred 
against  him  at  any  time.  Only  because  God  led  him  into  a  different 
field  of  labor,  after  having  become  acquainted  with  the  Doctrine,  Dis- 
cipline, and  methods  of  work  of  the  Methodists,  did  he  forfeit  his  mem- 
bership as  a  necessary  consequence.  If  the  Lord  had  not  thus  led  him, 
he  would  no  doubt  have  remained  in  the  M.  E.  Church,  for  he  felt  per- 
fectly at  home  among  them.  [Ed.] 


JACOB  ALBRIGHT. 


41 


CHAPTER  VI. 
Growth  in  Grace  and  Entire  Sanctiflcation. 


FAITHFUL  IMPROVEMENT  OF  THE  MEANS  OF  GRACE. 

''^^HEREFORE  the  rather,  brethren,  give  dili- 
gence to  make  your  calling  and  election  sure ; 
for  if  ye  do  these  things,  ye  shall  never  fall." — 
5Pet.  1.  10. 

Albright  had  now  found  a  home  in  which  he 
was  spiritually  cared  for.  He  was  faithful  in  the 
use  of  the  means  of  grace  and  the  discharge  of 
Christian  duties.  But  he  was  also  attacked  by 
Satan,  and  compelled  to  pass  through  severe  inter- 
nal conflicts,  which  is  more  or  less  the  case  with 
all  of  God's  children,  especially  in  the  beginning 
of  the  Divine  life.  He  further  says :  "  I  strove  to 
be  temperate,  and  exercised  myself  much  in  fast- 
ing and  prayer,  which  I  always  found  to  be  the 
best  means  in  the  hour  of  trial,  for  I  had  very 
severe  temptations  and  inward  struggles,  and 
when  in  a  strait  whether  or  not  to  heed  the  coun- 
sel of  others,  I  continued  more  earnestly  and  con- 
stantly in  prayer,  which  always  helped  me  to  over- 
come my  enemies.  However,  I  also  found  that 
the  encouragement  and  advice  of  true,  pious,  and 
experienced  servants  of  God  were  a  strong  support. 
In  this  manner  I  became  more  mature  in  the 


42 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


knowledge,  of  God ;  and  by  means  of  my  struggles 
in  trials,  and  the  victory  which  the  grace  of  God 
afforded  me,  my  faith  and  determination  to  do  good 
became  firmer;  and  through  persevering  and  fer- 
vent prayer  I  realized  constantly  greater  trust." 
Albright  was  heartily  in  earnest  in  his  devotions, 
and  deported  himself  accordingly,  and  the  result 
was  a  healthy  growth  in  grace  and  progress  in  the 
work  of  the  Lord. 

ENTIRE  SANCTIFICATION. 

In  being  connected  with  the  Methodists,  Albright 
became  acquainted  with  the  doctrine  of  Sanctification 
and  Christian  Perfection,  as  it  was  taught  by  John 
Wesley  and  the  fathers  of  Methodism,  according  to 
2  Cor.  7.  1 ;  1  Thess.  5.  23,  24,  etc.  He  sought 
this  state  of  grace  with  all  his  heart,  and  also  real- 
ized it  in  his  personal  experience.  Of  the  details 
of  his  experience  of  entire  sanctification  he  left 
nothing  upon  record,  but  that  he  had  a  definite 
experience  of  this  grace  he  did  not  conceal,  and  he 
exhorted  his  spiritual  children,  both  in  private  and 
in  public,  to  seek  this  great  blessing.  The  unani- 
mous testimony  of  the  fathers  and  mothers  in 
Israel  who  personally  knew  and  heard  him,  places 
this  beyond  doubt.  Father  Dreisbach,  who  for  some 
time  traveled  with  him,  declared  to  the  compiler  of 
this  book :  "  Albright  did  not  merely  make  a  profes- 
sion, but  he  lived  in  the  fullness  of  entire  sanctifi- 
cation. He  had  complete  victory  over  his  passions. 


JACOB  ALBRIGHT. 


43 


Ever^-thing  about  him  seemed  to  l>e  under  the  con- 
trol of  the  Spirit,  and  he  lived  in  perfect  love  to  God 
and  man."  Albright  himself  says  :  '*  I  attained 
to  a  state  in  which  my  heart  was  almost  continu- 
ally lifted  up  to  God.  and  realized  the  ability  to  l>e 
temperate  in  all  thmgs,  to  love  God  sujjremelij^  and 
my  neiglihor  as  myself:  for  God.  and  Christ  through 
his  Spirit,  quickened  my  soul,  so  that  I  did  not  Ike 
unto  myself^  but  to  the  glory  of  God  ^  and  the  iv  el  fare 
of  humanity y  Any  one  acquainted  with  AVeslej  's 
writings  and  the  forms  of  expression  of  Metho- 
distic  theology  knows,  that  the  sentences  which 
are  printed  in  italics  express  entire  sanctification. 
This  degree  of  grace  he  experienced,  it  seems, 
shortly  before  he  entered  the  itinerancy,  and  about 
four  years  after  his  conversion,  which  he  indicates 
in  the  following  language  :  **  In  possession  of  such 
grace,  lohich  teas  a  gift  of  God,  endued  with  the 
power  of  His  righteousness  and  holiness,  his  Spirit 
sealing  me  in  love,  grace  and  hope.  I  entered  upon 
my  itinerant  labors."  What  stress  he  laid  upon 
the  possession  of  this  grace,  and  how  much  he 
urged  ministers  of  the  Gospel  to  seek,  enjoy,  and 
preach  sanctification.  is  especially  to  be  seen  in  the 
exhortations  which  he  gave  in  later  years  to  his 
co-laborer.  George  Miller.  Miller  had  already  for 
some  time  served  as  an  itinerant  minister,  but  be- 
ing sorely  tempted,  was  about  to  resign  his  office. 
Miller  says :    "  Albright  asked  me  whether  I  had 


44 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


experienced  the  grace  of  sanctification  ?  I  replied, 
Tfchat  I  could  not  answer  affirmatively.  ^  Then,'  he 
^responded,  'you  cannot  'preach  sanctification  with 
{power ; '  and  exhorted  me,  without  delay  earnestly 
to  seek  this  grace,  otherwise  I  would  not  be  able 
to  endure  these  severe  trials,"  etc.  We  learn  from 
this  that  Albright  did  not  believe  and  teach  that 
entire  sanctification  and  regeneration  were  simul- 
taneously experienced,  for  Miller  had  been  con- 
verted to  God  for  a  number  of  years.  Neither  did  he 
believe  and  teach  the  necessary  continuation  of  the 
root  of  sin,  or  a  sinful  potency  in  believers,  until 
near  or  unto  death.  He  admonished  Miller  "to 
seek  without  delay'''  entire  sanctification.  He  also 
did  not  believe  that  a  minister  without  the  experi- 
ence of  sanctification  could  preach  this  doctrine 
clearly  and  effectively,  or  successfully  stand  the 
test  to  the  end. 

Albright  taught  sanctification  as  a  definite  work 
•of  God,  or  as  a  blessing — ''this  grace''  which  we 
'''receive" — or  as  a  real  and  powerful  work,  which 
imparts  the  ability  to  resist  all  temptation,  and 
thankfully  to  accept  all  adversities  and  crosses  as 
coming  from  the  hand  of  the  Lord.  What  would 
Albright  have  thought  and  said  of  a  preacher  who 
questions  the  distinctness  and  definiteness  of  the 
work  of  sanctification  —  who  declares  it  to  be  fanat- 
icism, and  endeavors  to  prove  that  a  person  either 
already  is  wholly  sanctified  in  regeneration,  or,  on 


JACOB  ALBEIGHT. 


45' 


the  other  hand,  postpones  the  experience  to  the 
end  of  life,  or  death  ?  Would  he  have  accepted 
such  a  man  as  his  co-laborer  ?  Is  such  a  minister 
^' EvangelicaV  ^  Let  Albright's  experience,  the 
testimony  of  those  who  heard  him  preach,  and  his 
admonitions  to  G.  Miller  answer  these  questions^ 


46 


LIFE  AND  LABOES  OF 


CHAPTER  VIL 


Call  to  the  Ministry. 


INTRODUCTORY  STEPS. 


<<T^HOU  shalt  go  to  all  that  I  shalb  send  thee, 


and  whatsoever  I  command  thee,  thou  shalt 
speak." — Jer.  1.  7. 

Soon  after  his  conversion,  Albright  and  Eiegel 
held  meetings  for  their  mutual  edification.  "  In  the 
class  and  prayer-meetings  of  the  Methodists/'  Al- 
bright records,  "my  joy  in  God  increased  daily, 
and  I  received  power  to  pray  impressively  in  pub- 
lic, to  the  edification  of  myself  and  others."  This 
strengthened  him,  and  made  a  favorable  impression 
upon  his  brethren.  "Thus,"  he  continues,  "I 
realized  more  and  more  strength,  and,  occasionally, 
at  the  request  of  my  fellow  Christians,  I  delivered 
an  exhortation,  which  did  not  remain  fruitless." 
In  view  of  this,  he  received  a  written  license  as 
exhorter ;  and  as  at  this  time  a  revival  was  in  prog- 
ress among  his  German  neighbors,  frequent  oppor- 
tunities presented  themselves  to  deliver  a  word  of 
exhortation.  Of  this  Albright  speaks  as  follows : 
"  Naturally  I  had  no  talent  to  speak  in  public,  and 
I  frankly  confess  that  I  was  less  qualified  in  this 
respect  than  any  other  one  who  might  have  under- 
taken it ;  but  when  I  felt  myself  carried  away  by 


JACOB  ALBEIGHT 


47 


the  Spirit  of  God,  when  prayer  brought  my  soul 
nearer  to  my  Redeemer,  when  I  was  animated  with 
a  hatred  against  sin,  when  the  righteousness  of  a 
scrutinizing  Judge  appeared  before  me,  and  I  at 
the  same  time  realized  his  overwhelming  love 
towards  his  fallen  creatures,  I  was  seized  upon  by 
nn  influence  which  loosened  my  tongue,  and  God's 
grace  wrought  through  me  the  conversion  of  fallen 
a.nd  unconverted  professors  of  rehgion,  and  the 
edification  of  true  believers."  It  is  clearly  sub- 
stantiated by  competent  witnesses,  that  his  natural 
talent  as  a  speaker  was  much  greater  than  his 
modesty  would  allow  him  to  claim.  His  language 
testifies  that  he  did  not  overrate,  but  rather  under- 
estimate himself,  humility  being  a  prominent  trait 
in  his  Christian  character. — At  this  time  he  had 
no  idea  of  becoming  a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  but 
no  doubt  the  Lord  had  already  chosen  him  to  be 
his  messenger. 

THE  INTERNAL  CALL. 

"  Thou  shalt  be  my  preacher,"  said  God  to  Jere- 
miah, and  so  he  speaks  to-day  through  his  Spirit 
and  providence  to  those  whom  he  calls  to  this 
great  work.  He  has  reserved  unto  himself  the 
prerogative  to  send  whom  He  will,  for  He  says,  "  I 
will  give  preachers  to  Jerusalem."  (See  Isa.  41.  27.) 
He  thoroughly  knows  the  work  that  is  to  be 
accomplished,  as  also  His  servants  who  are  to  do  it. 

It  is  of  special  interest  to  know  that  Albright 


48 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OP 


teas  called,  as  well  as  hoio  he  was  called  into  the 
vineyard  by  his  Master,  to  do  a  work,  the  magni- 
tude of  which  he  could  not  forsee,  but  which  God 
understood  in  all  its  bearings.  We  will  allow  him 
to  speak  for  himself  on  this  subject :  "  Thus  I 
spent  several  years  in  a  state  of  grace,  and  served 
God  with  joy  and  gladness,  and  realized  his  bless- 
ing in  the  bestowment  of  increased  knowledge  of 
him.  A  burning  love  to  God  and  all  his  children, 
and  towards  my  fellow-men  generally,  pervaded 
my  being.  Through  this  love,  which  the  peace  of 
God  shed  abroad  in  my  heart,  I  came  to  see  the 
great  decline  of  true  religion  among  the  Germans 
in  America,  and  felt  their  sad  condition  very  keen- 
ly. I  saw  in  all  men,  even  in  the  deeply  depraved, 
the  creative  hand  of  the  Almighty.  I  recognized 
them  as  my  brethren,  and  heartily  desired  that 
they  might  be  as  happy  as  I  was.  In  this  state  of 
mind  I  frequently  cast  myself  upon  my  knees,  and 
implored  God  with  burning  tears,  that  he  might 
lead  my  German  brethren  into  a  knowledge  of  the 
truth,  that  he  would  send  them  true  and  exem- 
plary teachers,  who  would  preach  the  Gospel  in  its 
power,  in  order  to  awaken  the  dead  and  slumber- 
ing religious  professors  out  of  their  sleep  of  sin, 
and  bring  them  again  to  the  true  life  of  godliness, 
so  that  they,  too,  might  become  partakers  of  the 
blessed  peace  with  God  and  the  fellowship  of  the 
saints  in  light.    In  this  way  I  prayed  daily  for  the 


JACOB  ALBRIGHT. 


49 


welfare  of  my  brethren.  And  while  I  thus  held 
intercourse  with  God,  all  at  once  it  seemed  to  he- 
come  light  in  my  soul;  I  heard,  as  it  were,  a  voice 
within,  saying :  '  Was  it  mere  chance  that  the 
wretched  condition  of  your  brethren  affected  your 
heart  so  much?  Was  it  chance,  that  your  heart, 
3'ea,  even  your  heart,  was  so  overwhelmed  with 
sympathy  for  the  salvation  of  your  brethren  ?  Is 
not  the  hand  of  Him  visible  here,  whose  wisdom 
guides  the  destiny  of  individuals,  as  well  as  that  of 
nations  ?  What,  if  his  infinite  love,  which  desires 
to  lead  each  soul  into  Abraham's  bosom,  had  chosen 
you,  to  lead  your  brethren  into  the  path  of  life, 
and  to  prepare  them  to  share  in  the  mercy  of  God ! ' 
I  now  began  to  realize  more  peace  and  more  assur- 
ance. I  felt  a  holy  confidence  that  my  prayers 
were  acceptable,  and  I  heard,  as  it  were,  the  voice 
of  God :  '  Go,  work  in  my  vineyard ;  proclaim  to 
my  people  the  Gospel  in  its  primitive  purity,  with 
energy  and  power,  trusting  in  my  fatherly  love, 
that  all  those  who  hear  and  believe  shall  have  part 
in  my  grace.' " 

Here  let  us  take  off"  our  shoes,  for  this  is  holy 
ground  !  Every  reader,  and  especially  every  min- 
ister of  the  Evangelical  Association,  should  listen 
with  reverence  to  these  conversations,  which  were 
held  in  the  holy  of  holies  of  Albright's  soul  be- 
tween himself  and  his  God.    In  these  solemn 

moments  our  Church  was  conceived  in  the  heart  of 
4 


50 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


Albright,  through  the  Divine  call  to  the  ministry. 
The  abundant  fruit  of  his  labors,  as  it  now  ap- 
pears, corroborates  this  assertion,  and  establishes 
Albright's  call  to  the  work  which  he  wrought.  We 
are  anew  reminded  of  the  wise  and  truthful  word  of 
Oamaliel :  "If  this  counsel,  or  this  work  be  of 
men,  it  will  come  to  nought ;  but  if  it  be  of  God^ 
je  cannot  overthrow  it."  (Acts  2.  38,  39.) 

As  Albright  was  called  of  God,  so  must  each 
one  who  undertakes  to  preach  the  Gospel  have, 
above  anything  else,  an  inward  Divine  call. 
Natural  gifts,  and  the  opinions  of  men  are  insuffi- 
cient without  this  call.  The  Church  has  ever 
suffered  the  greatest  harm  through  such  persons 
as  ran  before  God  sent  them,  or  such  as  have 
been  misled  by  the  persistent  advice  of  friends. 
Such  usually  become  "  false  prophets,  who  come 
to  you  in  sheep's  clothing,  but  inwardly  they  are 
ravenous  wolves,"  who  do  much  harm,  both  to  the 
doctrines  of  Christianity  and  practical  religion. 
The  Evangelical  Association  held  from  the  begin- 
ning that  only  a  Divine  call  decides  this  important 
question.  It  will  be  well  with  her  if,  like  her 
founder,  she  clings  firmly  to  this  truly  Biblical 
truth,  both  in  doctrine  and  practice. 

The  thought  of  such  a  call,  for  such  a  work,  had 
never  before  entered  Albright's  mind,  and  he  never 
sought  the  office  of  the  ministry  for  selfish  purposes. 
Hence,  when  he  so  clearly  realized  his  Divine  call, 


JACOB  ALBEIGHT. 


51 


his  nature  shrunk  back,  as  this  is  frequently  the 
case,  to  some  extent  at  least,  with  all  true  ser- 
vants of  God. 

"Although,"  Albright  continues,  "these  things 
were  very  clear  to  my  mind,  yet  nature  suggested 
many  doubts.  Though  this  call  did  not  seem  to  me 
to  be  in  conflict  with  God  and  his  Word,  yet  I  argued, 
I  am  an  uneducated  and  very  ordinary  man ;  how 
many  persons  of  great  gifts  and  learning  there  are, 
who  would  be  much  better  instruments  than  I  am, 
persons  who  possess  a  better  presence,  and  would 
make  a  better  impression.  During  such  reflections 
my  courage  failed  me,  and  then  I  prayed  earnestly, 
that  God  might  give  this  commission  to  some  one 
^Ise,  better  qualified  and  worthier  than  poor  I  was." 
How  widely  different  were  the  leelings  and  pur- 
poses of  Albright  from  the  slanderous  statement  of 
a  certain  "  D.  D.,"  ^  who  made  an  abortive  attempt 
to  deliver  himself  of  a  piece  of  sarcasm  as  follows  : 
Albright  was  an  ignorant  and  puffed-up  man, 
^vho  wished  to  become  great,  and  hence  went  to 
work  like  a  silly  boy,  who  attempted  to  elevate 
himself  by  pulling  away  at  the  legs  of  his  trousers." 

Henceforth  Albright's  inner  experience  became 
very  interesting.  His  timid  heart  searched  for 
excuses,  but  conscience  spoke  freely  and  loudly  for 


*■)  We  will  omit  his  name,  because  lie  no  doubt  thinks  differently 
now.  Ed. 


52 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


God.  "  To  such  excuses,"  Albright  continues,  "  the 
voice  of  my  conscience  constantly  answered,  that  on 
my  part  there  must  be  a  confiding  obedience  with- 
out murmuring;  God's  grace  would  be  sufficient; 
it  would  qualify  those  whom  the  Lord  had  chosen  as 
instruments  of  his  all-comprehensive  love,  with 
power  from  on  high,  and  great  blessings  and  suc- 
cess unto  their  efforts.  Conscience  also  glowingly 
pictured  the  joy  and  the  reward  which  were  await- 
ing me,  if  I  would  be  obedient  to  the  Divine  call, 
and  on  the  other  hand  showed  me  the  injury  and 
ruin  that  would  result  to  me,  if  I  refused  to  obey 
the  voice  of  God,  and  to  submit  to  his  will.  In  the 
distance  I  saw  the  crown  glittering  that  awaited 
me  if  I  would,  as  I  was  often  clearly  convinced 
that  I  should,  follow  the  call  of  the  Lord,  to  pro- 
claim his  kingdom  through  the  Gospel,  and  to  build 
up  the  Church  upon  Christ,  the  Rock  and  Corner- 
stone of  all  believers^  in  united  fellowship,  accord- 
ing to  the  command  of  Christ  and  his  apostles." 
But  instead  of  at  once  obeying  the  voice  of  God,  Al- 
bright shrank  from  assuming  the  great  responsibil- 
ities, counseling  with  flesh  and  blood,  which 
brought  great  darkness  and  confusion  upon  him. 
"  Thus,"  Albright  further  says, "  ebb  and  tide  passed 
through  my  soul.  Notwithstanding  the  full  con- 
dition of  a  Divine  call,  my  flesh  would  still  raise 
many  objections,  so  that  I  often  became  unde- 
cided to  obey,  and  thereby  became  deeply  distressed 


JACOB  ALBRIGHT.  53 

and  humbled.  A  great  weight  seemed  to  rest  upon 
me;  I  had  no  enjo}Tnent  by  day,  nor  rest  by  night. 
I  became  so  low-spirited  that  nothing  was  able  to 
cheer  me  —  my  inward  peace  fled,  and  the  idea 
that  it  would  be  almost  impossible,  without  the 
assistance  of  others,  without  any  ecclesiastical  con- 
nection, to  travel  through  the  country  and  preach, 
only  increased  my  anxiety.  All  the  external  dan- 
gers and  difficulties,  which,  under  such  circum- 
stances, would  thrust  themselves  in  my  way,  were 
^dvidly  placed  before  my  imagination,  and  I 
trembled  in  these  hours  of  temptation,  notwith- 
standing that  I  had  God's  promiif&s  on  my  side. 
This  was  especially  the  case  when  I  considered 
that  I  should  be  compelled  to  stand  alone,  without 
any  support  upon  which  I  could  rely,  knowing  God 
would  prove  me  through  trials.  However,  notwith- 
standing these  doubts,  the  consciousness  was 
wrought  within  me  by  the  grace  of  God,  that  God 
was  mighty  in  the  weak,  that  he  would  ask  no 
more  than  we  were  able  to  perform,  that  the  cour- 
age he  imparted,  and  the  grace  he  bestowed  would 
be  sufficient  to  achieve  victory  and  success,  if  his 
honor  and  glory  were  the  end  kept  in  view.  I 
was  also  conscious  of  His  power,  and  that  all  suffi- 
ciency came  from  Him,  and  that  He  would  qualify 
those  who  acted  in  accordance  with  His  pleasure, 
as  I  often  realized,  when  I  fully  submitted  myself 
to  His  will." 


64 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


Albright's  struggles  and  delay  were  made,  under 
Divine  providence,  which  knows  how  to  make  "  all 
things  work  together  for  good,"  more  abundantly 
to  show  to  future  generations,  that  this  man  was 
not  a  wild  enthusiast,  nor  acted  hastily  in  any  im- 
portant matter;  but,  on  the  contrary,  that  he 
counted  the  cost  well,  and  rather  over-estimated 
the  same.  This,  also,  only  had  the  effect  of  con- 
firming his  Divine  call,  and  to  determine  him  to 
be  obedient,  as  we  shall  soon  see  : 

"  By  contending  with  these  doubts,  I  became 
more  and  more,  and  finally  fully  convinced,  that 
God  had  called  me  to  the  great  work  of  proclaim- 
ing his  Word  and  Gospel  to  my  erring  brethren. 
Everything  that  had  in  the  beginning  opposed  me, 
all  objections,  the  fear  of  man,  distrust  in  my  own 
ability,  fear  of  failure  in  my  work,  and  concern  for 
my  steadfastness,  became  insignificant  before  the 
eye  of  my  soul ;  and,  on  the  other  hand,  God 
placed  before  my  mind  so  many  motives,  through 
the  impartation  of  fervent  love  for  my  brethren, 
the  confidence  in  his  mighty  protection  and  help, 
the  trust  in  his  blessing,  and  a  spiritual  view  into  ' 
the  future,  revealing  the  great  reward  awaiting  me 
for  faithfully  rendered  services,  that  I  could  no 
longer  refuse  to  obey  his  call. 

DELAY  AND  CHASTISEMENT. 

The  cause  of  the  Lord  requires  haste,  for  many 
immortal  souls  are  in  danger  of  being  eternally  lost. 


JACOB  ALBRIGHT. 


55 


When  the  Lord  has  once  said  :  "  Go,  work  in  my 
vineyard,"  it  is  meant  in  earnest.  He  would  not 
permit  a  certain  man,  first  to  go  home  to  take 
leave  of  his  friends,  and  another  first  to  bury  his 
father.  A  person  having  once  plainly  understood 
the  call  of  the  Lord,  and  consented  thereto^  it  is  per- 
ilous to  delay.  This  was  also  the  experience  of  Al- 
bright, concerning  which  we  will  further  hear  him  : 
But  the  execution  of  this  call  I  deferred  from 
one  time  to  another.  I  still  imagined  that  I  saw 
a  difficulty,  and  when  this  was  removed,  then  I 
persuaded  myself  of  the  existence  of  another.  For 
this  indecision  the  Lord  finally  chastened  me  with 
severe  affiictions,  a  constant  cutting  pain  pene- 
trated every  nerve,  and  almost  intolerable  torment 
coursed  through  the  members  of  my  body,  my 
form  became  emaciated,  so  that  nothing  was  left 
of  me  but  a  shadow.  My  muscular  sj  stem  became 
so  weakened,  that  I  could  not  do  work  of  any  kind. 
and,  still  worse  than  all  bodily  sufiering,  was  the  ter- 
rible feeling  which  at  times  overcame  my  soul,  as 
though  I  was  entirely  forsaken  of  God.  What  I 
endured  during  this  sickness  in  body  and  in  mind 
is  indescribable.  Sometimes,  in  the  feeling  of  be- 
ing forsaken  of  God,  I  screamed  so  terribly  that 
all  who  saw  and  heard  me,  turned  away  from  me 
with  horror." 

Can  any  one  whom  the  Lord  has  called  to  the 
office  of  the  ministry,  and  who  is  disobedient  to 


56 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


that  call,  save  his  soul  ?  If,  when-  he  is  obedient, 
he  "saves  himself  and  those  who  hear  him,"  will 
he  not  plunge  himself  and  others  into  damnation 
through  his  disobedience?  Albright's  experience 
furnishes  important  data  to  a  correct  answer  of 
these  questions.  If  he  had  not  become  obedient — 
then  woe  unto  him ! 

THE  FINAL  DECISION. 

"  During  this  chastisement  I  recognized  more 
than  ever  before  the  hand  of  God,  and  became 
most  thoroughly  convinced  that  a  person  cannot 
do  better  than  to  submit  himself  entirely  to  the 
will  of  his  Creator,  and  to  render  unhesitating  obe- 
dience to  his  call.  Miserable  as  my  condition  was, 
God  still  showed  unmerited  mercy  towards  me,  by 
retaining  me  in  a  state  of  grace.  I  therefore  con- 
tinued instant  in  prayer,  humbled  myself  before 
the  Lord,  prayed  with  hot  tears  for  forgiveness, 
and  solemnly  vowed,  and  firmly  resolved  that,  if 
restored  to  health,  I  would  be  obedient  to  God's  call, 
and  immediately  travel  through  the  country  and 
preach  the  Gospel  wherever  it  would  please  him 
to  send  me,  if  only  his  presence  would  go  with  me. 
As  soon  as  this  resolution  was  fixed  in  my  heart, 
it  seemed  as  if  a  heavy  burden  had  rolled  from  my 
soul.  I  felt  greatly  relieved,  peace  having  again 
taken  possession  of  my  breast.  After  rest  had 
come  to  my  soul,  I  was  also  soon  relieved  from 
bodily  2)ain,  my  strength  speedily  returned,  new 


JACOB  ALBRIGHT. 


57 


life  pervaded  the  members  of  my  body,  and  in  a 
short  time  I  was  completely  restored." 

READY  TO  TRAVEL. 

"Here  am  I,  send  me,"  was  finally  said  by  Jacob 
Albright,  without  any  further  ifs  or  bids.  "As 
soon  as  I  was  restored,"  he  further  relates,  "  I 
immediately  commenced  to  make  such  preparations 
as  I  considered  necessary  and  proper.  The  suffi- 
ciency to  preach  the  Gospel  I  sought  solely  from 
the  Lord,  by  unceasing  prayer  and  daily  searching 
the  Scriptures.  I  also  endeavored  to  consecrate 
my  body  entirely  to  the  service  of  God,  so  that  no 
passion,  desire  or  love  of  ease  should  obstruct  or 
hinder  me  in  my  course;  for  God  showed  me 
plainly  the  miserable  and  wretched  condition  of 
those  who  preach  the  practice  of  virtue  to  others, 
and  they  themselves  are  castaways." 

REMARKABLE  FASTING. 

"  Therefore  I  fasted  for  weeks,  in  the  beginning, 
so  that  my  body  was  often  so  overheated  and 
inflamed  that  I  was  compelled  to  bathe  in  cold 
'water,  in  order  to  allay  the  inflammation.  I  did 
everything  in  my  power  to  crucify  my  affections 
and  lusts,  so  that  the  flesh  might  not  reign  in  me, 
but  the  Spirit  of  Christ.  God  blessed  my  efforts 
so  powerfully,  that  my  heart  was  constantly  lifted 
up  to  him,  and  received  strength  to  keep  myself 
temperate  in  all  things,  to  love  God  supremely,  and 
my  neighbor  as  myself,  for  Christ  quickened  my 


58 


LIFE  AND  LABOES  OF 


soul  with  his  Spirit,  that  I  did  not  live  unto  my- 
self, but  to  the  glory  of  God  and  for  the  welfare  of 
man." 

I  presume  no  one*  will  question  the  motives  of 
this  self-denying  man  in  this  remarkable  fasting. 
It  was  not  done  to  merit  the  grace  of  God,  for  he 
has  told  us  that  he  sought  the  sufficiency  for  his 
work  solely  from  the  Lord,  in  constant  prayer  and 
searching  in  the  Scriptures.  But,  like  Paul,  he 
wished  to  keep  his  body  under  subjection^  so  that, 
preaching  unto  others,  he  might  not  himself  be- 
come  a  castaway.  But  since  Albright  had  no  one 
to  counsel  with  on  this  subject,  he  went  so  far  in 
his  zeal,  that  he  nearly  prostrated  his  body,  not 
allowing  it  sufficient  nourishment  to  enable  it  ta 
perform  its  functions  as  "the  temple  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,"  and  as  the  instrument  of  the  soul  in  the 
service  of  God.  The  Scriptures,  of  course,  declare 
that  Paul  brought  his  body  under,  yet  the  New 
Testament  also  enjoins  that  we  should  take  care 
of  the  body,  for  it  is  the  temple  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
yet  not  so  as  to  "make  provision  for  the  flesh  to 
fulfill  the  lusts  thereof"  Moderate  fasting  cannot 
be  too  highly  recommended,  while  intemperance 
in  all  things  should  be  avoided.  But  we  should 
remember  that  Albright  was  called  to  a  specially 
difficult  Avork,  the  great  importance  of  which  he 
fully  comprehended  and  deeply  realized.  Just  then 
he  wished  to  devote  himself  to  it  for  life,  and  his 


JACOB  ALBBIQET. 


59 


spirit  was  full  of  presentiment;  the  portentous 
future  for  him  and  the  cause  of  God  burdened  his 
mind.  Under  such  circumstances  his  soul  must 
have  been  in  special  suspense.  Hence,  the  mis- 
take he  committed  against  his  body  was  caused  by 
feelings  which  are  quite  excusable.  His  fasting 
for  weeks  is  covered  by  the  declaration  of  Paul : 
"  For  whether  we  be  beside  ourselves,  it  is  to  God." 
(2  Cor.  5.  13.)  It  was  not  a  mistake  of  the  heart, 
and  hence  God  did  not  hold  him  accountable  for  it. 
Such  an  error  can  be  committed  by  a  person  in  the 
possession  of  perfect  love  without  any  detriment 
either  to  the  doctrine  or  experience  of  Christian 
Perfection,  as  it  is  not  caused  either  by  the  affec- 
tions or  by  the  will.  The  merits  of  Christ  cover 
all  such  shortcomings,  and  his  Spirit,  in  course  of 
time,  will  show  to  the  sincere  Christian  how  in  the 
future  similar  mistakes  may  be  avoided.  Other- 
wise, Albright's  self-denying  spirit  is  to  be  very 
much  commended. 


1 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
Beformatorj  Labors  and  Persecutions. 

WHY  ? 

««"^O  open  their  eyes,  and  to  turn  them  from 
darkness  to  light,  and  from  the  power  of 
Satan  unto  God,  that  they  may  receive  forgiveness 
of  sins,  and  inheritance  among  them  which  are 
sanctified  by  faith  that  is  in  me." — Acts  26.  16. 

We  have  now  arrived  at  a  period  of  Albright's 
history,  where  the  question,  "  Why  was  the  reform- 
atory work  of  Albright  necessary,"  must  be  direct- 
ly answered.  If  there  was  no  necessity  for  it,  then 
Albright  was  also  not  called  to  such  a  work.  If 
lihe  work  is  not  at  hand,  then  the  call  thereto  must 
'be  wanting,  and  all  impressions  and  feelings  rela- 
tive to  it  are  either  a  delusion  of  Satan  or  self- 
deception. 

WHY,  THEN  ? 

We  answer :  Because  the  power  of  godliness  in 
the  German  Churches  had,  at  that  time,  almost 
become  extinct;  it  was  even  decried  by  many 
preachers  as  fanaticism,  and  hence  sin  and  corrup- 
tion had  gained  the  ascendency  to  such  an  extent, 
that  members  and  officers  in  the  church  lived  in 
open  sin,  and  only  here  and  there  a  form  of  godli- 
ness remained.    Church  discipline  was  entirely 


JACOB  ALBRIGHT. 


61 


neglected,  and  the  "wild  beasts  rooted  up  the  vine- 
yard of  the  Lord  "  in  a  fearful  manner.  Here  and 
there  a  few  men  were  to  be  found,  for  instance, 
the  Rev.  J.  G.  Schmucker,  and  Dr.  B.  Kurtz 
in  the  Lutheran  Church,  who  saw  and  deplored 
this  moral  ruin.  Schmucker  once  heard  Albright 
preach  in  a  cemetery  in  the  town  of  Lebanon,  Pa.,, 
during  the  session  of  the  Lutheran  Synod  at  that, 
place,  and  afterwards  testified  that  the  sermon  was, 
plain  and  powerful,  and  that  such  preaching  was. 
very  much  needed.  According  to  Schmuckers, 
opinion,  there  were  at  that  time  only  a  feto  con- 
verted preachers  in  the  large  Synod  to  which  hQ 
belonged.  Dr.  Kurtz  wrote  in  the  "  Lidlierai\ 
Observer relative  to  that  time,  as  follows  :  "  Sab- 
bath-schools, prayer-meetings,  etc.,  were  not  yet 
introduced.  Night  meetings  were  looked  upon  as 
'new  measures.'  Conversion  was  a  strange  word,, 
and  revivals  were  unknown.  True,  the  Lord  still 
had  his  chosen  ones,  but  they  were  as  few  in  num- 
ber as  the  gleanings  of  the  olive  tree,  two  or  three 
in  the  top.  Cock  fights,  race  courses,  the  bowling 
alley,  dog  and  bear  fights,  etc.,  were  more  largely 
attended  than  the  house  of  God.  In  general,  dark^ 
ness  covered  the  earth,  and  gross  darkness  the 
people."  {Lutheran  Observer,  No.  1107.), 

This  description  was  truthfully  applicable  to  al- 
most every  locality.  Bishop  Seybert,  who  grew 
up  to  manhood  in  the  midst  of  this  deplorable  state 


^62 


LIFE  AND  LABOES  OF 


■of  the  Church,  before  he  was  converted  to  God, 
through  Albright  and  his  co-laborers,  leaves  the  ; 
following  testimony  of  the  condition  of  the  Church  \ 
at  that  time:  ''In  the  year  1800  the  German  pop-  ] 
ulation  of  Pennsylvania  consisted  chiefly  of  Roman  j 
Catholics,  Lutherans,  Reformed,  Mennonites,  Old  ' 
.school  and  New  school  Baptists,  Schwenkfelders, 
^etc.  The  majority  of  Catholics,  Lutherans  (and 
largely  the  Reformed)  were  guilty  of  gross  viola-  i 
^ions  of  God's  law,  profanity.  Sabbath  desecration,  * 
drunkenness,  etc.,  being  quite  common  among  them.  I 
Baptism,  confirmation,  with  an  occasional  recep- 
tion of  the  Lord's  supper,  constituted  the  essentials  ] 
of  their  religion.  The  preachers  themselves,  with  | 
but  few  exceptions,  were  wicked,  and  hostile  ^ 
towards  converted  people.  The  Mennonites  and  j 
Baptists  in  general  had  a  more  pious  exterior,  but  \ 
in  reality  they  were,  nevertheless,  enemies  to  true  < 
experimental  religion,  which  showed  itself  among  ! 
them  and  the  Schwenkfelders,  when  persons  were  • 
converted  to  God."  Seybert  also  describes  the  sad  i 
state  of  the  Church  in  his  home  at  Manheim,  Pa.,  [ 
not  far  from  Albright's  neighborhood,  in  the  follow-  ; 
ing  words :  "  The  Roman  Catholic,  Lutheran,  and  ; 
German  Reformed  Churches  had  their  children  : 
baptized  in  infancy.  When  they  reached  the  age,  j 
isay  Irom  12  to  20  years,  they  attended  catechetical  ' 
instructions,  and  ;afterwards  were  confirmed,  on  > 
^hich  occasion  itibe  minister  demanded  of  them  be- 


JACOB  ALBEIGHT. 


63 


fore  God  and  all  the  people,  to  renounce  Satan  and 
«in,  and  to  serve  God  faithfully  until  death;  then 
they  were  blessed  with  the  laying  on  of  hand. 3  and 
pronounced  Christians.  This  usually  occurred  on 
Easter  Sunday,  but  on  Easter  Monday  those  Chris- 
tians could  be  seen  in  the  ball-room,  at  the  drinking 
and  gambling  tables,  as  well  as  on  Christmas,  New 
Year,  and  Pentecost.  The  majority'  cf  these 
hypocritical  Christians,  manufactured  thuy,  were  a 
rough  and  wicked  set  —  swearers.  Sabbath  desecra- 
ters  and  inebriates.  Even  some  Churrh  officers 
were  drunkards,  liars,  and  guilty  of  c  ishonesty, 
60  that  the  proverb  became  current.  **  No  one 
is  fit  to  be  a  Church  officer,  without  having  an  ille- 
gitimate child  ! "  To  these  facts,  related  by  Sey- 
hert,  we  will  add  what  we  well  remamber  of  the 
^'dark  corners"  (as  they  were  often  called)  of  Mont- 
gomery, Berks,  Bucks,  and  other  eastern  counties  of 
Pennsylvania,  in  which  the  same  noral  darkness 
prevailed  in  the  Church,  and  which  continued  even 
until  1830.  Facts  could  be  cited  that  would  appear 
shocking  and  incredible  to  the  reader,  and  we  will 
be  as  sparing  as  possible,  and  only  exhibit  so  much 
of  the  deplorable  declension  of  the  Church  during 
Albright's  time,  as  is  indispensably  necessary,  to 
show  the  necessity  of  his  labors.  We  will  only 
call  attention  to  one  more  testimony,  that  of  Rev. 
J.  L.  Reber,  a  Reformed  minister.  In  his  book 
entitled:      Ei7i  enistkaßes  Wort  ueber  den  Sec- 


64 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


tengeist  und  das  Sectenwesen'^  alluding  to  Albright 
and  his  co-laborers,  he  says  :  At  the  time  these 
men  were  awakened,  the  Church  was  in  a  deplor- 
able state.  The  ways  of  Zion  were  dreary,  the 
Church  was  almost  lifeless,  the  majority  wickedly 
slumbering  in  sin." 

To  arouse  the  Church,  dead  in  trespasses  and 
sin,  and  to  seek  the  lost  and  neglected  sheep  and 
bring  them  to  Christ,  the  Lord  needed  a  man  like 
Albright.  For  such  a  work  a  classically  educated 
man  was  not  needed.  Of  these  there  were  enough, 
but  alas !  they  themselves  were  corrupt.  Nor  was- 
any  such  literary  labor  required  as  the  translation 
of  the  Bible,  or  the  compilation  of  theological 
works,  etc.,  in  order  to  bring  about  the  nee  (fed 
reformation.  This  labor  had  been  previously  done 
by  other  servants  of  God.  But  the  German 
Churches,  and  the  German  people  of  this  country, 
needed  an  earnest  call  to  repentance  towards  God, 
and  the  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  for  this 
purpose  God  selected  this  unassuming,  but  practi- 
cal man,  whom  he  especially  qualified  for  this 
work.  He  had  led  Albright  into  a  deep  and 
thorough  experimental  knowledge  of  these  truths, 
and  then  thrust  him  into  the  field  to  preach  to  the 
people  out  of  his  own  heart  into  their  hearts, 

HIS  FIRST  EFFORTS. 

Albright  now  saddled  his  horse  and  traveled  into 
the  morally  desolate  vineyard.    His  sufficiency 


JACOB  ALBRIGHT. 


65 


was  not  from  man,  but  from  God,  he  could  there- 
fore say  with  Paul :  "  Xot  that  we  are  sufficient 
of  ourselves  to  think  anything  as  of  ourselves ;  but 
our  sufficiency  is  of  God,  who  also  hath  made  us 
able  ministers  of  the  New  Testament ;  not  of  the 
letter,  but  of  the  Spirit."  (2  Cor.  3.  5,  6.) 

But  let  Albright  himself  speak  :  **  In  possession 
of  such  grace,  which  was  a  gift  from  God,  equipped 
with  the  power  of  his  righteousness  and  holiness, 
sealed  by  his  Spirit  in  love,  faith  and  hope,  I  began 
my  travels  in  the  year  1796,  in  the  month  of  Oct., 
in  order  to  obey  the  call  of  God  in  proclaiming  his 
holy  will  as  revealed  in  the  Gospel.  I  traveled 
extensively  in  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia,  and 
through  the  blessing  of  God  I  found  opportunity  to 
preach  in  churches,  school-houses  and  private 
houses.  Occasionally  I  also  received  some  support, 
so  that  I  was  enabled  to  continue  my  travels ;  for 
my  labors  in  the  Gospel  were  not  without  fruit,  as 
many  persons  were  awakened  and  converted  to 
God." 

HE  PREACHES  IN  THE  MARKET  PLACE. 

On  a  very  beautiful  Sabbath  in  the  month  of 
October,  1796,  a  Reformed  Church  at  Shaeferstown, 
Lebanon  Co.,  Pa.,  was  dedicated.  Jacob  Albright, 
who  had  just  entered  upon  his  calling  as  an  itiner- 
ant preacher,  came  there  also.  Inasmuch  as  a 
great  multitude  of  people  had  met,  so  that  the 
Church  could  not  nearly  seat  them  all,  Albright  went 
6 


66 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


to  the  market  house  which  stood  near  the  church, 
in  the  middle  of  the  main  street,  and  took  his 
stand  upon  a  pile  of  lumber,  and  began  to  preach 
to  the  people  who  gathered  around  him  in  great 
numbers.  Many  who  heard  the  Word  that  day 
were  "pricked  in  their  hearts,"  and  a  great  commo- 
tion ensued.  However,  some  of  the  sons  of  Belial 
cried  out :  "  This  man  is  beside  himself,"  and 
finally  pushed  him  from  the  lumber  pile,  and 
would,  no  doubt,  have  maltreated  him,  had  not  a 
very  strong  man  taken  him  in  his  arms  like  a 
child,  and  carried  him  away,  saying,  "  You  better 
leave  now,  or  else  you  may  yet  be  injured."  But 
a  gentleman  named  Möhr  took  him  to  his  home. 
This  sermon,  and  the  ill-treatment  of  Albright, 
made  a  deep  impression  upon  the  minds  of  the 
people,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  the  great  revival 
which  afterwards  took  place  in  that  neighborhood. 

ALBRIGHT  AMONG  THE  SCHWENKFELDERS. 

Soon  after  the  above  occurrences,  we  meet 
Albright  in  Montgomery  County,  about  eighty 
miles,  in  a  south-easterly  direction,  from  the  above 
place,  and  about  ten  miles  from  his  birth-place, 
among  the  so-called  "  Schwenkfelders."  These 
people  belong  to  a  small  religious  denomination 
who  received  their  name  from  Caspar  Schwenkfeld, 
a  pious  nobleman,  and  a  cotemporary  of  Martin 
Luther,  from  Ossing,  in  Silesia,  Germany. 
Schwenkfeld 'differed  from  Luther  in  his  doctrine 


JACOB  ALBEIGHT. 


concerning  the  Lord's  Supper/ and  the  means  of 
grace.  His  hterary  productions^  still  extant,  are 
thoroughly  evangelical,  and  very  spiritual,  and 
have  been  the  means  of  bringing  many  to  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  truth.  His  followers  were  so  severely 
persecuted  by  Lutherans  and  Catholics,  that  they 
fled  to  America  in  1734,  and  settled  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  they  led  a  pious  Christian  life.  But 
these  people  soon  degenerated  spiritually,  and  later 
became  severe  persecutors  of  praying  people.  Still 
in  Albright's  time  there  were  yet  a  number  of  souls 
to  be  found  who  were  very  susceptible  to  the  truth. 
Many  years  ago  Samuel  Schultz,  a  man  then 
eighty-five  years  old,  narrated  to  the  writer  how 
as  a  youth  he  witnessed  the  ai-rival  of  Albright 
among  the  Schwenkfelders.  He  said :  "  At  the 
funeral  of  a  child  of  a  Schwenkfelder  family,  who 
lived  in  Upper  Hanover  township,  Montgomery 
County,  Pa.,  it  happened  that  Albright,  as  an 
entire  stranger,  appeared  at  the  house  of  the 
bereaved  family,  after  the  people  had  already 
assembled.  The  stranger  asked  the  officiating 
clergyman,  George  Kriebel,  for  permission  to 
deliver  an  exhortation  to  the  people.  Upon  his 
statement  that  he  was  an  Evangelical  preacher, 
and  as  his  external  appearance  and  his  dress  were 
very  plain,  which  had  considerable  influence  with 
those  people,  permission  was  granted  him.  Accom- 
panying the  procession  to  the  church,  which  was 


68 


LIFE  AND  LABOES  OF 


constructed  of  logs,  he  took  his  seat  behind  the 
table  (there  being  no  pulpit),  by  the  side  of  the 
minister. 

"  Curiosity  was  awakened  among  the  people,  and 
whisperings  were  heard  as  to  who  this  stranger 
might  be,  but  no  one  could  tell.  To  the  astonish- 
ment of  all,  Albright  arose  after  the  sermon,  and 
delivered  a  powerful  exhortation.  Afterwards  he 
asked  permission  to  preach  there,  which  request 
was  also  gladly  granted,  and  an  appointment  was 
announced  for  him  for  a  certain  Saturday.  When 
Albright  came  he  found  a  large  congregation,  to 
which  he  preached  with  much  energy  and  feeling 
on  the  final  judgment,  from  Matthew  25.  The 
sermon  made  a  deep  impression,  so  that  many 
tears  were  shed.  A  second  appointment  was  made, 
and  afterwards  a  third,  in  a  different  meeting- 
house." 

Meanwhile,  however,  a  flood  of  persecution  was 
let  loose  upon  this  pious  man.  The  most  shame- 
ful fabrications  and  falsehoods  were  spread  abroad. 
He  was  represented  to  the  Schwenkfelders  to  be  a 
degraded  character,  a,nd  by  these  means  they  were 
induced  to  forbid  him  the  use  of  their  meeting- 
houses. But  there  was  one  man,  by  the  name  of 
David  Schultz,  commonly  known  as  "  Berg  David/* 
who  took  no  notice  of  these  calumnies,  and  allowed 
Albright  to  preach  in  his  house  whenever  he 
passed  through  the  neighborhood.    At  this-  place 


JACOB  ALBRIQHT. 


69 


Albright  scattered  seed,  bedewed  with  many  tears 
and  prayers,  which  in  later  years,  from  1730  even 
up  to  the  present  time,  has  borne  fruit  an  hundred 
fold,  in  the  conversion  of  many  souls,  long  after 
Albright  has  entered  into  the  joy  of  his  Lord. 

It  is  remarkable  how  desperately  Satan  opposed 
this  man,  and  how  he  kindled  the  fires  of  persecu- 
tion against  him.  Not  only  were  shameful  false- 
hoods set  afloat,  as  already  stated,  but  the  most 
absurd  things  were  said  about  him.  Sometimes 
during  preaching,  becoming  very  fervent,  he  would 
occasionally  ^tand  on  his  tiptoes.  His  enemies 
made  much  ado  about  this.    Even  as  late  as  1830, 

when  Melchior  Sch  was  seeking  the  Lord,  and 

began  to  attend  the  services  of  Evangelical  preach- 
ers, his  brother  J.  Sch  rushed  upon  him  like 

a  threatening  Saul,  saying :  "  And  you  want  to  go 
to  these  Albright  people  ?  Don't  you  remember 
how  thirty  years  ago,  at  ^  Berg  David's,'  Albright 
stood  so  proudlj'  uiwn  his  tiptoes  This  he 
thought  should  be  sufficient  to  make  sun  and 
moon,  and  his  brother  M.  stand  still;  but  the 
threatening  word  fell  powerless  to  the  ground,  and 
only  its  insipid  foolishness  remained. 

We  can  corroborate  Father  S.  Schultz's  closing 
remarks  given  above,  that  the  seed  scattered  by 
Albright  bore  fruit  an  hundred  fold.  As  our  home 
was  in  that  neighborhood,  we  ourselves  wit- 
nessed it  from  1830  to  1853.    The  Lord  did  great 


70 


LIFE  AND  LABOES  OF 


things  among  the  Schwenkfelders  and  their  neigh- 
bors, and  in  our  boyhood  we  often  heard  the 
fathers  speak  about  Albright,  and  that  they  could 
not  forget  the  impression  he  had  made  upon  them, 

FURTHER  LABORS. —  SATAN'S  RAGE. 

After  this,  Albright  found  openings  in  many 
parts  of  Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  to  preach  the  Gos- 
pel. About  his  labors  there  we  are  able  to  give 
some  facts,  but  no  special  particulars.  It  has  been 
ascertained,  that  he  visited  these  parts  about  the 
beginning  of  his  labors,  after  he  had  visited  the 
Schwenkfelders  in  Montgomery  County,  and  some 
other  places  in  the  eastern  border  counties 
Pennsylvania.  Here,  too,  Satan  raged  against 
him.  Albright  pointed  out  the  sins  and  corruption 
which  reigned  among  the  people  and  in  the  Churchy 
and  souls  were  led  to  repentance  and  to  Christ. 
The  prince  of  darkness  observed  that  under  Christ's 
command  a  conqueror  had  invaded  his  realm,  and 
the  kingdom  of  darkness  began  to  rage  terribly. 
Albright  was  soon  decried  as  a  sensualist,  and  this 
slander  wicked  ministers,  themselves  guilty,  eagerly 
circulated,  and  then  warned  the  people  "  to  beware 
of  this  false  prophet,  who  came  to  them  in  sheep's 
clothing,  but  inwardly  he  was  a  ravenous  wolf.'* 
Frequently  the  wicked  deeds  perpetrated  by  worth- 
less characters,  who  served  as  pastors,  but  who 
deserved  being  sent  to  the  penitentiary,  weie 
fastened  upon  him,  which  grieved  him  very  much. 


JACOB  ALBHiaHT. 


71 


We  will  give  an  instance  from  Bishop  Seybert's 
report:  "Albright  preached  in  the  house  of  a 
certain  widow,  named  Thomas,  and  at  Christian 
Thomas'  at  Millersburg,  four  miles  south  of  Lan- 
caster. Soon  some  persons  were  converted  there, 
a  class  was  organized.  Christian  Thomas  was 
appointed  class-leader,  and  shortly  afterwards  his 
brother,  David  Thomas,  and  Thomas  Ripley  were 
converted.  These  three  brethren  afterwards 
became  good  and  pious  ministers.  But  a  great 
persecution  arose,  and  the  devil  raged  fiercely, 
the  wicked  scoffing  when  passing  by  the  house 
of  Christian  Thomas,  but  God  likewise  worked 
mightily." 

On  a  Sabbath  afternoon  Albright  preached  in  a 
street  in  Lebanon,  Pa.,  from  Isa.  58.  1 :  "Cry  aloud 
and  spare  not,"  etc.  In  this  sermon  he  told  the 
Lutherans,  German  Reformed,  Baptists  and  Men^ 
nonites  the  truth  in  the  following  manner  :  "  You 
Lutherans,  of  course,  think  you  have  Luther,  and 
that  he  was  a  converted  man ;  that  you  have  the 
Catechism,  etc.,  but  your  sinful  lives  prove  that 
you  are  not  Lutherans,  for  you  live  contrary 
to  God's  Word  and  Luther's  teaching.  And 
you,  German  Reformed  —  what  does  it  mean 
to  be  reformed^  It  means  to  be  restored,  to 
be  converted  from  sin  and  the  world  to  God; 
but  your  lives  prove  that  you  have  turned  from 
God  and  towards  the  world.    You  Dunkards  and 


72 


LIFE  AND  LABOBS  OF 


Mennonites,  with  your  peculiar  dress  and  outward 
plainness,  by  which  you  comfort  yourselves,  you 
will  be  lost  without  the  new  birth,  notwithstand- 
ing you  have  large  farms  and  earthly  posses- 
sions. Be  not  astonished  that  I  said  unto  you, 
^  You  must  be  born  again,'  for  these  are  the  words 
of  our  Saviour  and  Judge."  One  of  the  auditors 
afterwards  said  to  Father  Spayth  that  this  ser- 
mon made  such  an  impression  upon  him,  that  it 
seemed  to  him  as  though  he  saw  the  earth  open, 
to  swallow  them  all  up  in  their  wickedness." 

A  SERMON  ON  FUTURE  JUDGMENT. 

Sometime  after  this  (the  date  could  not  be 
ascertained)  Albright  preached  at  a  certain  place  in 
Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  from  Mai.  3.  2  —  "But  who 
may  abide  the  day  of  his  coming  ?  And  who  shall 
stand  when  he  appeareth  ?  For  he  is  like  a  refin- 
er's fire,  and  like  fuller's  soap."  He  described  the 
judgment  with  such  power,  that  a  strong  young 
man,  by  the  name  of  Leonard  Zimmermann,  was 
so  wrought  upon,  that  he  thought  he  saw  the 
Judge  coming  in  the  clouds  of  heaven,  and  soon  it 
happened  to  him  as  it  did  to  Saul  —  he  became 
dlind  for  a  short  time !  He  then  commenced  to 
seek  the  Lord,  was  truly  converted  to  God,  and 
afterwards  became  a  useful  minister. 


*)  A  promineat  man  among  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ. 


JACOB  ALBBIÖHT. 


73 


FURTHER  LABORS  AND  SUCCESS. 

It  was  not  a  rare  occurrence  that  sinners  were 
so  powerfully  wrought  upon  during  Albright's  ser- 
mons, that  they  would  fall  from  their  seats  as  if 
they  were  dead,  in  great  agony  on  account  of  their 
sins,  crying  aloud  for  mercy.  Wherever  he  went, 
awakenings  and  conversions  followed;  but  perse- 
cutions also  arose,  and  all  kinds  of  slander  circu- 
lated. He  unsparingly  rebuked  and  condemned 
sin,  whether  found  among  the  clergy  or  laity, 
attacking  no  one  personally,  but  fearlessly  exposing 
false  doctrine  and  crime.  Of  the  regular  Church- 
ministry  he  always  spoke  respectfully,  as  far  as 
the  truth  justified  him  in  doing,  always  appreciat- 
ing and  recognizing  the  good  that  still  remained. 
From  the  beginning  of  his  public  labors  until  the 
year  1800,  Albright  labored  largely  in  Lancaster, 
Dauphin  and  Berks  Counties,  Pennsylvania,  but 
he  also  visited  Virginia,  whither  many  Germans 
of  Pennsylvania  had  moved.  He,  however,  directed 
his  attention  especially  to  the  more  easterly  counties 
of  Pennsylvania.  Bishop  Seybert  writes  about  this 
as  follows :  "  As  soon  as  Albright  had  gained  firm 
foothold  in  Lancaster  and  Dauphin  Counties, 
moved  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  he  also  traveled  through 
Bucks  and  Northampton  Counties  in  Eastern,  and 
Northumberland  and  Center  Counties  in  Central 
Pennsylvania." 

He  preached  wherever  he  found  an  opening,  in 


74 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


churches,  school-houses,  barns,  private  houses, 
groves,  highways  and  streets,  in  the  country  and 
in  cities.  This  he  did  under  great  opposition  from 
the  wicked,  with  remarkable  gentleness  and 
patience,  with  great  spiritual  power,  through  which 
many  were  awakened  and  happity  converted  to 
God.  In  Northampton  County  he  was  very  much 
hated  and  persecuted,  most  of  his  persecutors,  how- 
ever, were  overtaken  by  signal  judgments  of  God. 

ALBRIGHT  AND  GEORGE  MILLER  MEET. 

George  Miller,  who  afterwards  became  a  power- 
ful co-laborer  of  Albright,  was  in  a  penitent  condi- 
tion in  the  year  1799.  He  prayed  much  in  secret, 
wept  over  his  sins,  and  searched  the  Scriptures. 
"  In  this  penitent  condition,"  says  Miller,  Provi- 
dence so  ordered  that  I  was  permitted  to  see  the 
Evangelical  preacher,  Jacob  Albright.  I  also 
heard  him  preach,  and  though  I  previously 
thought  little  of  him,  yet  now  he  seemed  a  wonder 
to  me :  for  his  humble  appearance,  his  pious  and 
cheerful  countenance,  which  seemed  to  glow  with 
love  to  God  and  man,  the  mild,  but  penetrating 
look,  with  which  he  gazed  upon  me,  captivated 
me. 

He  preached  from  the  words :  "  Behold,  I  place 
before  you  the  way  of  life  and  the  way  of  death." 
— Jer.  21.  8.  I  was  so  wrought  upon  by  his 
powerful  sermon,  that  if  I  had  not  seized  hold  of  a 
table,  I  would  have  fallen  to  the  floor.    After  the 


JACOB  ALBRIGHT. 


75 


sermon  I  conversed  with  him.  His  exhortation 
was  short,  but  powerful.  He  said:  ^"You  must 
pray  earnestly,  humble  yourself,  take  the  cross  of 
Christ  upon  you  and  believe  with  the  heart,  and 
then  you  will  soon  find  peace.  The  next  day  I 
accompanied  him  to  his  appointment.  When  we 
separated  I  requested  him  to  pray  for  me." 

Many  oral  and  written  testimonies  like  the 
above  could  be  adduced  to  show  that  Albright 
possessed  a  strikingly  gracious  and  impressive 
expression  of  countenance,  which  made  a  lasting 
impression  upon  his  hearers.  Of  Stephen  it  is 
said :  "  And  they  all  looked  upon  him,  who  sat  at 
council,  and  beheld  his  countenance,  as  the  coun- 
tenance  of  an  angel."  Of  Albright,  an  old  mother 
in  Israel,  who  saw  him  often,  said  :  "  Oh,  he  was 
as  beautiful  as  an  angel ! " 


76 


LIFE  AND  LABOES  OF 


CHAPTER  IX. 
Organization  of  the  Erangelical  Association. 


ALBRIGHT'S  DESIGN. 

JT  was  by  no  means  Albright's  purpose  to  found 
a  new  religious  denomination,  but  rather  only 
to  do  the  will  of  God  and  save  souls.  He  had 
been  taught  by  experience  that  he  was  compelled 
to  do  so  in  order  to  save  his  own  soul.  Hence,  he 
had  formed  no  plan  for  his  work.  The  Master, 
however,  provided  for  this,  simply,  plainly,  telling 
his  servant :  '  Go  thou  and  do  thy  work,'  so  that 
Albright  had  been  compelled  to  adopt  the  lan- 
guage :  '  Woe  is  me  if  I  preach  not  the  Gospel.' 
He  had  been  taught  by  experience  that  it  is  always 
best  to  submit  unconditionally  to  the  will  of  God, 
and  to  be  obedient  to  his  call,  without  looking  fbr- 
nvard  or  backward.  Albright  was  compelled  to  do 
"his  work  outside  of  the  Methodist  church,  as  the 
leading  men  of  that  denomination,  at  that  time, 
•did  not  consider  it  necessary  to  labor  in  the  Ger- 
man language,  as  they  held  to  the  opinion,  "  that 
the  German  language  would  die  out,  and  that  in 
twenty  years  all  would  be  English."  (Bishop  Sey- 
bert.)  Even  as  late  as  1810,  in  a  conversation 
l^etween  Bishop  Asbury  and  Bev.  J.  Dreisbach, 
during  which  it  was  suggested,  that  the  German 


JACOB  ALBRIGHT. 


77 


circuits  and  preachers  be  received  into  the  Meth^ 
odist  Episcopal  Church,  and  continued  as  such^ 
Bishop  Asbury's  reply  was :  "  That  would  be 
inexpedient."  The  only  course,  therefore,  which 
Albright  could  pursue  under  the  circumstances^, 
was  to  continue  his  labors  in  the  German  language- 
independently. 

The  Lord  had  already  blessed  his  labors.  A 
number  of  souls  had  been  awakened  and  led  ta 
Grod  through  his  instrumentality,  who  now  looked 
up  to  him  as  their  spiritual  father  for  advice  and 
direction.  (Albright  never  attempted  to  draw  the- 
converts  of  others  to  himself;  those  united  with 
him  were  his  own  spiritual  children.) 

In  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  there  was, 
on  account  of  the  language,,  no  home  for  them; 
the  so-called  Impartial  people,"  *•  General  people," 
"  Freedom  people,"  etc.,  at  that  time  rejected 
external  organization  and  discipline  as  a  "  slavish 
yoke,"  and  at  many  places  opposed  Albright, 
because  he  favored  Church  discipline.  The  other 
so-called  Churches  persecuted  him  and  his  little 
flock  almost  unto  death;  hence  the  circumstances, 
or  rather  Divine  Providence,  which  shapes  circum- 
stances, left  only  this  one  way  open,  viz.,  to  form 
an  independent  organization  for  mutual  edification 
in  godliness,  and  for  the  purpose  of  securing 
stability  and  perpetuity  for  the  work.  Hence,  the 
Evangelical  Association  may  fi:tly  be  termed  "  a 


78 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


child  of  Providence; "  her  remarkable  growth  dem- 
onstrates this  assertion,  and  also  indicates  that  God 
has  a  great  work  for  her  to  do  in  the  future.  The 
Lord  does  not  raise  up  a  people  in  such  a  striking 
manner,  and  then,  when  they  have  become  strong, 
reject  them,  and  suffer  them  to  be  destroyed,  unless 
they  become  disobedient  and  fail  to  fulfill  their 
mission,  when  the  judgments  of  God  will  come 
upon  them  unto  destruction. 

ORGANIZATION  OF  CLASSES. 

In  the  year  1800  Albright  ventured  the  impor- 
tant step  to  organize  the  persons  who,  through  the 
providence  of  God,  had  been  entrusted  to  his  care, 
into  classes  or  societies.  The  first  three  of  these 
classes  were  formed  in  the  Counties  of  Bucks,  Berks, 
and  Northampton,  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania. 
The  first,  known  as  Walter's  Class,  was  near 
Quakertown;  the  second,  known  as  Liesser's  Class, 
at  the  Colebrookdale  Iron  Works;  and  the  third, 
known  as  Philip's  Class,  near  the  Blue  Mountain. 
Afterwards  other  classes,  besides  these,  were  organ- 
ized, to  whom  Albright  ministered. 

In  reference  to  this  matter  Albright  writes: 
"Having  preached  about  four  years,  and  having 
made  special  efforts  to  preach  the  Gospel  where 
vital  godliness  and  Christian  discipline  were 
unknown,  I  endeavored,  through  the  grace  of  God 
which  had  been  given  me,  to  give  these  awakened 
and  converted  persons  such  instructions  as  they 


JACOB  ALBRIGHT. 


79 


needed,  in  order  to  work  out  their  souls'  salvation, 
and  edify  each  other  in  the  bonds  of  Christian  fel- 
lowship, and  in  the  unity  of  faith,  in  accordance 
with  the  teachings  of  Christ  and  his  apostles.  God 
also  granted  his  blessing  upon  the  undertaking. 
Many  who  had  previously  lived  in  darkness  and 
ignorance,  received  the  light  of  truth  through  the 
instrumentality  and  assistance  of  this  union ;  and 
God,  my  Helper  and  Protector,  also  strengthened 
my  own  heart  and  mind  with  his  grace,  so  that  I  was 
not  only  enabled  to  preach  pure  doctrine  to  those 
whom  he  had  entrusted  unto  me,  but  also  endeav- 
ored to  establish  them  by  my  own  example." 
Thus  the  Evangelical  Association  originated,  al- 
though at  that  time  this  name,  in  fact  any,  had  not 
yet  been  adopted.  The  conversion,  sanctification, 
and  eternal  salvation  of  men  was  the  first  and 
chief  aim,  leaving  all  external  matters  to  be  deter- 
mined by  circumstances,  and  the  directions  of 
Providence. 

The  organization  of  the  work  into  an  ecclesias- 
tical form  had  now  been  commenced,  and  was 
afterwards  continued  and  completed. 


80 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


CHAPTER  X. 


Continuation  of  Albright's  Labors,  and  further  Occurrences. 


ALBRIGHT  PREACHES  POWERFULLY  ON  WHIT-MONDAY. 


<<nrHERE  is  no  definite  account  of  xilbright's 


labors  during  1801,  until  we  suddenly  find 
him  in  the  village  of  Hamburg,  Berks  County,  Pa. 
Father  Joseph  Zoll,  who  as  a  youth  attended  the 
meeting,  relates  the  following :  "On  Whit-Monday 
Albright  arrived  in  Hamburg,  and  came  to  a  man 
by  the  name  of  Diehl,  who  had  a  store.  Albright 
had  already  previously  talked  with  this  man  con- 
cerning an  appointment,  and  asked  him  whether 
he  would  be  allowed  to  preach  there.  Diehl 
thought  it  was  not  convenient  at  that  time,  as 
there  was  a  "  frolic  "  going  on  in  the  hotel  opposite. 
Albright  answered  that  that  would  be  no  obstacle 
to  him,  perhaps  he  could  make  some  of  those 
wicked  persons  afraid,  and  break  up  the  "  frolic." 

There  was  a  mill  close  by,  in  front  of  which  lay 
a  wornout  millstone,  which  was  used  to  assist  in 
mounting  horses.  The  owner  of  the  mill  gave 
Albright  permission  to  take  his  stand  upon  this 
stone  and  address  the  people.  He  preached  with 
such  power,  and  so  strongly  condemned  sin  and 
vice,  that  many  became  alarmed  and  left,  so  that 
the  "frolic"  was  broken  up.   The  landlord  became 


JACOB  ALBEIGHT. 


81 


so  enraged  at  Albright  that  he  attempted  to  drive 
him  away  with  a  whip,  but  did  not  succeed, 
George  Miller,  who  worked  in  the  mill  as  a 
millwright,  was  afterwards  converted,  and  became 
an  itinerant  preacher. 

A  young  man  by  the  name  of  Roeder  became  so 
frightened  through  the  sermon,  that  he  urged  his 
associates  to  return  home  with  him,  and  many  did 
return,  pricked  in  their  hearts  by  the  Word  of 
God." 

THE  FIRST  BIG  MEETING.  * 

In  1802  Albright  held  his  first  "big  meeting," 
in  the  house  of  Samuel  Liesser,  Sen.,  which  was 
greatly  blessed.  Sinners  were  saved  and  believers 
edified.  From  this  place  he  usually  went  to 
Walter's  and  C.  Bissey's,  about  18  miles  south-east 
of  Quakertown.  John  Walter,  a  young  man,  but 
strong  in  faith,  and  mighty  in  the  Scriptures, 
entered  the  itinerancy  with  Albright  during  this 
year. 

THE  SECOND  "BIG  MEETING." 

Soon  after  harvest  (in  1802),  Albright  and 
Walter  held  a  "big  meeting"  at  John  Thomas',  in 
Decatur  Township,  Mifflin  County,  Pa.   It  contin- 


*)  A  "big  meeting"  was  a  phrase  belonging  to  those  times,  denot- 
ing a  kind  of  general  meeting  of  members  and  preachers,  which 
usuallj^  lasted  during  Saturday  and  Sunday.  At  a  later  period  this 
meeting  was  changed  into  the  regular  Quarterly  Coafeceace  meeting. 

[ß.  Y.] 

6 


-82 


LIFE  AND  LABOES  OF 


ued  from  Saturday  noon  until  Monday  noon,  and 
was  held  under  some  large  cherry  trees  near  the 
house.  It  is  estimated  that  about  one  thousand 
persons  attended  this  gathering.  On  Sabbath 
morning  Albright  preached  from  John  8.12:  "I 
;am  the  light  of  the  world,  whosoever  foUoweth  me 
shall  not  walk  in  darkness,  but  shall  have  the 
light  of  life."  He  described  Christ,  the  Sun  of 
Eighteousness,  "which  enlighteneth  every  man 
that  Cometh  into  the  world."  As  the  sun  in  the 
Spring  of  the  year  ascends  higher  and  operates 
more  effectually  upon  the  earth  through  his  rays, 
that  the  ice  melts,  the  frost  disappears,  and  the 
earth  is  warmed,  and  the  vegetable  kingdom  is 
revived,  and  hence  causes  Spring,  Summer  and 
harvest — so  Christ  works  spiritually  upon  every 
heart  that  submits  itself  to  his  light  and  influence. 
The  rays  of  this  Sun  are  the  truths  of  God's  Word, 
accompanied  by  the  operations  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
He  likewise  pointed  out  how  this  light,  through 
the  preaching  of  the  Gospel,  would  penetrate  into 
spiritually  dark  neighborhoods,  and  how  it  would 
be  opposed  by  the  darkness ;  that,  as  physical  dark- 
ness was  always  the  thickest  just  before  the  break 
of  day,  but  would  be  overcome  by  the  light,  so  this 
Light  would  shine  into  the  moral  darkness,  and 
that  whosoever  would  follow  after  the  light  would 
not  walk  in  darkness,  that  is,  not  live  in  sin  and 
doubt,  but  would  have  the  light  of  life,  and  the 


JACOB  ALBEIGHT. 


83 


witness  of  the  Holy  Spirit  that  he  was  a  child  of 
God. 

This  sermon  was  very  clear  and  powerful,  and 
made  a  deep  impression  upon  the  congregation. 
Most  of  those  present  were  so  much  affected  by 
this  address,  that  they  shed  tears,  and  were  deeply 
convicted  of  the  truth.  During  the  delivery  of  the 
sermon  Albright  was  so  filled  with  power  from  on 
high,  that  it  seemed  as  though  a  halo  of  glory 
encircled  his  countenance,  and  his  otherwise 
impressive  person  appeared  especially  graceful. 
Thus  his  very  appearance  exerted  a  great  influence 
upon  the  people,  for  they  "  saw  his  countenance  as 
the  countenance  of  an  angel.*'  But  Satan,  too.  had 
his  minions  present,  who  at  the  outskirts  of  the 
congregation  tried  to  cause  disturbance.  One  of 
them  even  said  :  If  I  only  had  powder  that  would 
make  no  report,  I  would  soon  shoot  that  Albright 
down." 

ALBRIGHT  A  TEMPERANCE  MAN. 

After  this  meeting  at  Thomas'.  Albright  visited 
the  people  in  the  neighborhood,  to  speak  to  them 
about  their  souls,  as  was  his  custom  wherever  he 
went.  Among  others  he  also  visited  the  Wonder 
family,  who  lived  near  Thomas'.  Father  Wonder, 
•of  Carey,  Ohio  (now  an  aged  man,  up  in  the 
eighties),  well  remembers  this  visit  of  Albright  at 
Iiis  father's  house.  He  spoke  with  this  family 
about  rehgion,  and  of  God's  ways  in  a  gentle  and 


84 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


touching  manner.  Before  his  departure,  the  fam- 
ily was  called  together  at  his  request,  and  he 
prayed  with  them.  At  that  time  it  was  the  gen- 
eral custom  to  offer  whiskey  to  visitors ;  so  it  was 
done  in  this  instance,  and  Mr.  Wonder,  with  no 
evil  intention,  urged  Albright  to  drink.  But  he 
decidedly  yet  gently  declined,  using  the  following 
language :  "  Dear  people,  I  drink  no  liquor ;  I  don't 
need  it,  and  can  do  without  it  right  well.  You 
must  not  be  offended  on  account  of  my  refusal  to 
drink."  Wonder's  family  were  very  much  aston- 
ished at  this,  and  they  could  not  help  noticing  the 

difference  between  Albright  and  Pastor  St.  , 

who  frequently  got  so  drunk,  that  he  had  to 
be  carried  to  bed.  Mrs.  Wonder  was  unwilling  to 
give  up  her  intemperate  pastor,  but  her  husband 
declared  that  Albright  was  right.  The  children 
even  noticed  the  difference,  and  teased  their 
mother,  saying :  "  But  there  is  a  difference  between 
father's   pastor,  Albright,  and  mothers  pastor, 

St.  .  Father's  pastor  sings  and  prays,  and  talks 

about  religion,  and  drinks  no  liquor  when  he 
visits  us,  but  mother's  pastor  does  not  pray,  but 
curses  and  gets  drunk  —  we  will  stick  to  father's 
pastor ! " 

At  this  place  also  the  labors  of  Albright  were 
not  without  fruit.  During  the  years  1803-4  a 
number  of  persons  were  converted  to  God,  among 
them  being  Wonder's  family. 


JACOB  ALBKIOHI. 


85 


ALBRIGHT  VISITS  GEORGE  MILLER. 

Miller  in  the  meantime  got  married,  and  was 
making  money  fast,  so  that  he  was  in  danger  of 
becoming  worldly  minded.  "  In  this  condition/' 
he  says,  "the  Lord  sent  his  servant  Albright  to 
me,  who  asked  for  lodging.  Rejoicing  in  being 
permitted  to  see  him  again,  I  entertained  him  most 
heartily.  But  to  all  my  questions  he  gave  only 
brief  repUes.  However,  he  prayed  so  earnestly 
with  us,  that  I  could  not  refrain  from  weeping, 
which  gave  him  occasion  to  urge  upon  me  the 
necessity  of  conversion.  The  next  day  I  accom- 
panied him  ten  miles  to  Leonard  Zimmerman's, 
where  he  had  an  appointment.  On  the  way  I 
told  him  my  sad  condition,  and  how  I  had  been  a 
penitent  for  several  years,  but  had  as  yet  not 
received  the  forgiveness  of  my  sins,  and  the  assur- 
ance of  my  acceptance  with  God. 

He  told  me  then  that  I  would  have  to  submit 
myself  to  the  will  of  God,  believe  in  him,  and  trust 
in  his  help,  and  be  willing  to  take  up  the  cross  and 
suffer  reproach  with  the  people  of  God,  even  if  it 
seemed  as  though  every  person  was  against  me ; 
for  unless  I  would  forsake  every  sin,  and  separate 
myself  from  the  world,  and  become  obedient  to 
God  with  all  my  heart,  and  be  willing  to  serve 
him  only,  I  might  be  penitent  for  many  years,  and 
yet  finally  be  rejected  by  God  and  be  lost.  In  due 
time  we  arrived  at  the  place.  He  preached  power- 


86 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


fully,  and  with  such  liberty  and  boldness,  that  I 
was  fully  convinced  no  person  could  do  so,  without 
the  aid  of  God's  grace.  Powerfully  wrought  upon 
by  the  sermon,  I  firmly  resolved  henceforth  to 
work  out  my  soul's  salvation,  and  entreated 
Albright  to  preach  the  Gospel  of  Christ  crucified 
in  my  house  also,  which  he  readily  promised,  and 
appointed  a  time  when  he  would  come." — Not  long 
afterwards  Miller  found  peace  in  believing. 

From  the  above  it  will  appear  that  it  was  not 
the  purpose  of  Albright  simply  to  gather  a  large 
number  of  followers,  but,  like  his  Master,  he 
insisted  on  thorough  separation  from  sin,  self-denial 
and  submission  to  the  will  of  God.  He  did  not  build 
with  "wood,  hay  and  stubble,"  but  with  "gold,  sil- 
ver and  precious  stones,"  and  his  work  most  strik- 
ingly stood  the  test  of  the  fire  of  persecution,  and  is 
stamped  with  the  seal  of  God's  approval.  May 
every  Evangelical  preacher  build  as  Albright  built. 

ANOTHER  COLLEAGUE. 

In  1803  Albright  received  Abraham  Liesser,  one 
of  his  first  fruits,  as  assistant  in  the  ministry.  But 
as  the  work  spread,  persecution  also  increased.  It 
would  be  impossible  to  describe  the  fearful  calum- 
nies and  slanders  which  were  heaped  upon  the  lit- 
tle flock,  who  had  united  themselves  to  be  saved 
from  sin;  and  if  a  true  description  could  be  given^ 
the  report  would  scarcely  be  credited.  Even  better 
disposed  persons  criticised  their  action  in  establish- 


JACOB  ALBRIGHT. 


87 


ing  a  new  Church  organization,  ascribing  to 
Albright  and  his  co-laborers  all  sorts  of  sinister  and 
impure  motives.  Especially  was  he  accused  of 
pride,  inasmuch  as  his  personal  appearance  was 
always  very  neat  and  becoming,  and  his  manner 
manly  and  positive;  although  always  gentle,  he 
was  considered  by  some  persons  —  who  mistook 
slovenliness  for  humility,  and  were  unable  to  dis- 
tinguish between  a  star  and  a  charcoal  —  as  a 
haughty  man,  although  he  always  dressed  very 
plainly,  and  at  all  times  manifested  a  humble  spirit. 

His  little  flock,  who  knew  him  well,  were 
attached  to  him  with  reverential  respect  and 
ardent  love.  The  severe  persecutions  and  misrep- 
resentations only  brought  them  more  closely 
together,  and  made  them  cling  all  the  more  firmly 
to  the  promises  of  God.  Amid  all  the  fierce  opposi- 
tion, either  from  the  devil  or  from  men,  they  trusted 
in  God,  and  vigorously  pushed  forward  the  work. 
But  since  there  was  as  yet  no  proper  form  of  eccle- 
siastical government,  and  no  articles  of  faith  and 
rules  and  regulations  had  been  adopted  to  carry 
on  the  work  successfully,  it  was  considered  neces- 
sary to  hold  a  council  for  that  purpose.  This 
council  was  held  on  the  3d  of  November,  A.  D. 
1803.  Besides  Albright  and  his  two  colleagues, 
J.  Walter  and  A.  Liesser,  the  following  fourteen 
brethren  of  the  society  were  jDresent:  George 
Phillips,  George  Miller,  Ohas.  Bissy,  Conrad  Phil- 


88 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


lips,  John  Brobst,  Solomon  W.  Friderici,  Christian 
Brobst,  George  Phillips,  Michael  Brobst,  Samuel 
Liesser,  Peter  Walter,  Adam  Miller,  Jacob  Riedy 
and  Solomon  Miller.  These  adherents  of  Albright, 
who  recognized  him  as  their  spiritual  father,  to 
whom  they  were  indebted,  under  God,  for  their 
awakening  and  conversion,  now  declared,  in  the 
name  of  the  entire  society,  that  they  considered 
Albright  to  be  a  genuine  Evangelical  preacher,  and 
recognized  him  as  their  teacher,  and  as  such  they 
solemnly  consecrated  him.  Upon  this  the  society 
adopted  the  Holy  Scriptures,  of  both  the  Old  and 
New  Testaments,  as  their  Articles  of  Faith  and 
Practice^  and  presented  to  Albright  a  written 
acknowledgment  in  accordance  with  their  declara- 
tion concerning  him,  signed  by  all  present.  (His- 
tory of  the  Evangelical  Association,  Vol.  I,  Page 
26,  27.) 

The  above  mentioned  written  recognition  reads 
in  the  original  as  follows :  We,  the  undersigned, 
as  Evangelical  and  Christian  friends,  declare  and 
recognize  Jacob  Albright  as  a  truly  Evangelical 
minister  in  word  and  deed,  and  a  believer  (Beken- 
ner) in  the  universal  Christian  Church,  and  the 
communion  of  saints.  To  this  we  testify  as  breth- 
ren and  elders  of  his  society.  Given  in  the  State 
of  Pennsylvania,  the  5th  of  Nov.  1803.^  Signed 


*)  In  the  above  document  the  place  where  this  "council  meeting" 
was  held,  and  the  organization  of  the  Evangelical  Association  com- 


JACOB  ALBBIGHT. 


89 


by  John  Walter,  A.  Liesser,  and  fourteen  other 
persons,  who  are  named  above." 

This  is  a  valuable  and  important  document.  It 
is  an  earnest  testimony  of  a  number  of  men,  who 
were  not  inferior  in  honesty  and  truthfulness  to 
their  cotemporaries,  of  the  good  character  and  life 
of  Albright.  The  acknowledgment  of  Albright 
as  a  preacher  was  based  upon  the  fact  that  he  was 
a  believer  in  the  universal  Christian  Church,  and 

pleted,  which  was  commenced  in  the  year  1800,  through  the  formation 
of  classes,  is  not  given  more  specifically  than  that  it  occurred  in  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania.  At  a  certain  time  a  picture  appeared  of  the 
bouse  in  which  J.  Albright  died,  at  that  time  inhabited  by  George 
Becker,  near  the  Albright  Church,  and  the  village  of  Klinefelters- 
ville,  in  Lebanon  Count}',  Pennsylvania  —  the  neighborhood  is  also 
called  Muehlbach— with  the  assertion  that  this  council  was  held,  and 
the  Evangelical  Association  organized  in  this  house.  Relative  to  this 
picture,  .John  Drcisbach  wrote  an  earnest  letter,  in  which  he  says: 
*'The  council  of  the  Evangelical  Association,  Nov.  3d,  1803,  was  not 
held  at  Muehlbach.  The  brethren  J.  Albright  and  J.  Walter  did  not 
labor  there  before  the  Winter  of  1805-6.  It  would  be  very  desirable, 
that  in  the  gathering  of  fragments  of  our  history,  that  we  be  careful 
not  to  make  mistakes,  but  to  publish  the  truth  only."-  A  leport  left 
by  George  Becker,  the  owner  and  the  then  occupant  of  the  house,  con- 
cerning the  beginniug  and  continuation  of  the  work  of  God  in  his 
house  and  vicinity,  which  was  copied  by  John  Klinefelter,  agrees 
■with  J.  Dreisbach's  statement  that  the  beginning  of  the  work  took 
place  at  a  later  period,  and  that  the  Evangelical  preachers  were  "Jiew 
preachers"  to  them  in  1805-6.  George  Miller  says,  that  he  commenced 
to  preach  in  1805,  in  the  house  of  a  Mr.  Lescher,  in  Lancaster  Countj', 
which  was  only  a  few  miles  distant  from  Becker's.  To  that  place, 
John  Klinefelter  told  me,  Beckers  and  others  went  from  Muehlbach 
to  attend  meeting  in  1805,  and  afterwards  invited  these  ministers  also 
to  preach  in  their  place  at  Muehlbach.  The  history  of  the  Evangeli- 
cal Association  shows  that  in  1806  an  awakening  took  place  there,  and 
a  class  was  organized.  This  was  the  beginning  of  the  work  at  that 
place.   Evidence  could  be  multiplied  if  it  were  necessary. 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


hence  belonged  to  the  "communion  of  saints.*' 
And  how  could  a  person  be  a  true  Evangelical 
minister  who  was  not  from  the  very  start  united 
with  Christ  in  this  spiritual  priesthood,  even 
though  he  possessed  all  external  forms  and  titles. 
It  is  plain  enough,  that  the  views  of  J.  Walter, 
A.  Liesser  and  the  fourteen  "elders"  (which 
expression  here  means  the  elders  and  chief  mem- 
bers of  the  Association,  who  have  been  named 
already)  were  not  superficial.  Really,  J.  Walter 
and  A.  Liesser,  as  the  report  states,  ordained  J. 
Albright  by  the  laying  on  of  hands  and  prayer,  to 
be  a  preacher  and  elder,  thus  solemnly  consecrat- 
ing him,  with  the  consent  of  the  fourteen  elders,  to 
the  office  of  an  Evangelical  preacher.  A  very 
similar  instance  is  related  in  Acts  13.  1,  3  :  "Now 
there  were  in  the  Church  that  was  at  Antioch, 
certain  prophets  and  teachers;  as  Barnabas  and 
Simeon,  that  was  called  Niger  and  Lucius  of 
Cyrene,  and  Manaen,  which  had  been  brought  up 
with  Herod  the  Tetrarch,  and  Saul.  As  they 
ministered  to  the  Lord  and  fasted,  the  Holy  Ghost 
said,  Separate  me  Barnabas  and  Saul  for  the  work 
whereunto  I  have  called  them.  And  when  they 
had  fasted  and  prayed,  and  laid  their  hands  on 
them,  they  sent  them  away."  This  ordination, 
through  laying  on  of  hands,  accompanied  with 
fastmg  and  prayer,  was  not  performed  by  the 
apostles.    These  prophets  and  teachers,  Barnabas, 


JACOB  ALBEiaHT. 


91 


Simeon,  Lucius,  Manaen  and  Saul,  stood  upon 
equal  footing;  there  is  not  the  least  proof,  and 
scarcely  a  probability  at  hand,  that  any  one  of 
them  was  ordained.  But  Simeon,  Lucius  and 
Manaen  ordained  Saul  and  Barnabas,  by  fasting, 
prayer  and  laying  on  of  hands.  Relative  to  the 
fundamental  outlines  and  several  particulars,  the 
ordination  of  J.  Albright  is  a  parallel  to  the  above, 

AN  ACT  OF  THE  "ROYAL  PRIESTHOOD." 

"Ye  are  ...  a  royal  priesthood." — 1  Pet.  2.  9, 
This  action  of  the  pious  fathers  of  the  Evangeli- 
cal Association,  hy  which  they,  being  la^-men,  con- 
secrated J.  Albright  to  the  office  of  the  ministry, 
has  often  been  criticised  and  ridiculed  by  such  as 
cling  to  the  so-called  "Apostolic  Succession";  that, 
namely,  only  such  ordained  ministers  are  to  be 
recognized  as  servants  of  Christ,  and  rightful 
stewards  of  the  ministerial  office,  and  to  be 
acknowledged  as  such  by  the  Church,  who  were 
consecrated  by  such  ministers  as  could  trace 
back  their  consecration  to  this  office  uninterrupt- 
edly through  the  history  of  the  Church  to  the 
apostles.  Of  this  "cunningly  devised  fable,"  we 
find  not  a  word  in  the  New  Testament.  Neither 
has  any  one  yet  found  it  possible,  in  any  way  to 
prove  suck  a  succession,  although  many  learned 
heads  have  attempted  it. 

All  true  believers  who  are  united  with  the  glor- 
ified Saviour,  compose  his  Church  and  constitute  a 


92 


LIFE  AND  LABOES  OF 


^'holy  priesthood,  to  offer  spiritual  sacrifices," 
whose  head  is  the  King  and  High-Priest,  Jesus 
Christ.  By  virtue  of  this  union  with  him  they  are 
one  with  him,  and  thus  become  kings  and  priests 
before  God  and  the  Father^  Such  have  at  any 
time  and  at  any  place  upon  earth,  whenever  and 
wherever  the  outward  "successive"  ordination  has 
become  impossible^  through  the  spiritual  decline 
of  the  Church  and  ministry,  and  the  rejection  and 
persecution  of  godly  men,  the  unquestionahle  rights 
through  Christ,  formally  to  oi^dain  and  consecrate 
to  the  office  of  the  ministry  any  one  ivhom  Divine 
Frovidence  and  the  Spirit  of  Christ  calls  unto  this 
office,  as  was  without  any  doubt  the  case  with 
J acob  Albright,  the  continuation  of  a  true  ministry 
being  an  absolute  necessity.  x\fter  all,  in  matters 
of  this  kind,  everything  depends  upon  the  sanction 
and  confirmation  of  the  great  Head  of  the  Church. 
And  it  is  an  undeniable  fact,  that  Christ  has  rec- 
ognized, sealed  and  blessed  the  ministry  of  the 
Evangelical  Association  in  the  labors  of  Albright,, 
and  in  hundreds  of  his  followers,  with  "the  impar- 
tation  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  according  to  his  will," 
unto  the  awakening,  conversion,  and  sanctification 
of  thousands,  who,  in  accordance  with  Paul's 
teaching,  are  "seals''  to  their  ministrj'.  What 
further  evidence  do  we  need,  or  who  can  produce 
any  stronger  testimony?  Who  will  venture  to 
"'  fight  against  God,"  and  say  that  in  this  thing  he 


JACOB  ALBEIGHT. 


93 


has  made  a  mistake  ?  In  view  of  all  these  things, 
how  presumjDtuous  indeed  becomes  the  action  of  a 
certain  Synod  in  Pennsylvania,  which,  some  years 
since,  undertook  to  sit  in  judgment  upon  this  mat- 
ter, and,  in  keeping  with  High  Church  arrogance, 
declared  by  resolution  that  the  Evangelical  Asso- 
ciation with  her  ministry  was  not  a  part  of  the 
general  Church,  because,  forsooth,  she  was  not  in 
the  "  apostolic  succession  " !  Therefore  her  ordina^ 
tion  was  invalid,  and  hence  a  deserter  from  our 
Church  was  re-ordained.  Certainly  a  rare  instance 
of  ridiculous  self-conceit!  The  learned  gentlemen 
(?)  composing  this  Synod  tried  their  utmost  to 
prove  that  Albright  had  no  right  whatever  to  com- 
mence the  work  he  did,  and  as  it  stood  outside  of 
the  Church  it  would  soon  disappear.  It  was 
declared  by  these  men  that  the  Evangelical  Asso- 
ciation was  like  a  mush-room  which  grows  in  a 
night  and  withers  the  next  day  I  However, 
instead  of  seeing  their  prophecy  fulfilled,  these 
learned  (?)  Doctors  of  Divinity  have  seen  the  ful- 
fillment of  a  prophecy  made  by  Isaiah :  "  But  the 
Lord  shall  rise  upon  thee,  and  his  glory  shall  be 
eeen  upon  thee."  Since  the  Lord  has  now  vindi- 
cated the  work  of  his  servant,  and  no  doubt  this 
Synod  has  wisely  concluded  not  to  be  guilty  of  any 
more  such  blunders,  we  will  forbear  mentionmg  its 
name. 

CJ^^The  year  1804  is  a  blank  which  for  want  of  information  can- 
not be  filled') 


94 


LIFE  AND  LABOBS  OF 


"THERE  IS  ANOTHER  SPIRIT  IN  THIS  MAN." 

During  the  year  1806  Albright  traveled  through 
Centre  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  stopped  in  the 
town  of  Millheim,  with  a  Mr.  Bachman.  Mr.  B. 
soon  saw  that  there  was  "another  spirit"  in  this 
man  from  that  of  their  pastor.  Bachman  then 
gave  him  permission  to  preach  in  his  house.  In 
the  interval  a  man  by  the  name  of  Christopher 
Spangler,  of  Brush  Valley,  came  to  Bachman  s 
house.  He  was  told  what  kind  of  a  man  Mr. 
Albright  was,  whereupon  Spangler  said:  "Tell 
him  to  come  and  preach  at  my  place  also."  When 
Albright  reached  Spangler' s  house,  which  was 
not  quite  finished,  while  taking  off  his  overcoat, 
he  said :  "  Why,  you  are  building  a  fine  house,  but 
if  you  would  be  converted,  it  would  still  be  more 
so  to  you."  This  served  as  the  introduction  to  his 
sermon. 

The  sermon  made  such  an  impression  upon 
Spangler,  that  he  soon  began  to  seek  the  Lord,  and 
^re  long  found  peace  in  the  blood  of  Christ.  After- 
ward a  class  was  formed  there,  of  which  Spangler 
became  the  leader.  Later  he  became  a  local 
preacher.  Spangler  was  severely  persecuted,  but 
he  clung  so  firmly  to  Jesus,  and  was  also  so 
attached  to  Albright,  that  nothing  moved  him. 
Even  up  to  old  age,  he  spoke  with  special  appreci- 
xttion  of  Albright  as  his  spiritual  father. 


JACOB  ALBBIQET, 


95 


ALBRIGHT  FINDS  ACCESS  TO  P.  BREIDENSTEIN. 

On  a  snowy  day  in  the  Fall  of  1805,  Albright 
came  to  a  man  by  the  name  of  Philip  Breidenstein, 
who  lived  about  three  miles  south-west  of  Lebanon, 
Pa.  As  Breidenstein  formerly  lived  at  Adams- 
town,  near  Albright's  neighborhood,  he  and 
Albright  were  not  strangers  to  each  other.  Albright 
had  already  asked  B.  several  times  for  permission 
to  preach  at  his  place,  but  was  refused.  Still  he 
finally  yielded,  and  Albright  came  to  preach  there 
in  the  afternoon,  on  a  week  day.  But  inasmuch 
as  the  weather  was  very  unfavorable,  the  neigh- 
bors did  not  come.*  Breidenstein,  just  at  this 
time,  had  a  pump-maker  at  work,  who,  with  the 
assistants  and  Breidenstein's  family,  composed  the 
audience.  To  this  small  congregation  Albright 
preached  with  great  earnestness.  As  the  family 
were  seating  themselves  at  the  dinner  table, 
Albright  remarked :  "  To-day  is  my  fasting  day,  be 
so  kind  and  excuse  me."  After  the  meal  was  over, 
however,  he  said :  "  I  think  I  ought  to  eat  a  little 
after  all,  since  I  am  not  well,  and  have  some  dis- 
tance to  travel,  and  the  weather  is  very  unpleas- 
ant." This  was  certainly  very  discreet  of  Albright, 
as  his  health  was  already  failing.  But  how  great 
the  malice  of  some  persons  against  this  humble 


*)  Not  until  after  Albright's  death  was  there  regular  preaching 
here.  [R.  Y.] 


96 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


servant  of  the  Lord  waF,  the  language  of  the 
pump-maker  shows  He  said  to  Mrs.  Breidenstein^ 
after  Albright  had  left :  "  I  understand  this  par- 
son very  well.  When  he  saw  that  you  had  no 
turkey  prepared  for  him,  he  acted  as  though  he 
wanted  to  fast,  with  the  hope  that  something  bet- 
ter would  be  served,  but  since  that  did  not  happen^ 
he  thought :  I  must  after  all  eat  what  is  on  the 
table."  So  Satan  still  pro]3agates  his  lies  through 
persons  who  yield  to  him,  as  he  did  in  the  begin- 
ning through  a  serpent!  Breidenstein  attended 
the  funeral  services  of  Albright,  and  was  so 
wrought  upon  that  he  was  converted,  became  a 
useful  local  preacher,  and  a  pillar  in  the  Church. 

NOT  RECEIVED. 

At  this  time  the  fires  of  persecution  were  intense. 
It  seemed  as  though,  for  the  time  being,  permis- 
sion had  been  given  to  the  powers  of  darkness  to 
kindle  a  little  hell  on  earth ;  so  that  many  who 
had  only  been  converted  from  darkness  unto  light, 
but  not  from  the  power  of  Satan  unto  God,  turned 
away,  as  is  seen  by  the  following  incident : 

Albright  had  made  an  appointment  at  the  house 
of  George  Leitner's  father,  residing  in  one  of  the 
counties  of  Eastern  Pennsylvania.  However,  on 
account  of  the  fierce  j^ersecutions,  Leitner  recalled 
the  appointment.  When  Albright  arrived,  at  the 
appointed  time,  he  was  informed  by  Leitner  that 
his  neighbors  had  persuaded  him  not  to  have  the 


JACOB  ALBEIQHT. 


97 


appointment  filled,  whereupon  Albright  admon- 
ished him,  with  tears,  to  be  converted  to  God, 
This  exhortation  made  such  an  impression  upon 
Leitner's  son  George,  that  he  was  converted,  and 
afterwards  became  an  itinerant  minister  in  our 
Church.  Thus  Albright's  tears  were  not  shed  in 
vain.  "  They  that  sow  in  tears  shall  reap  with  joy.'* 

A  REMARKABLE  "BIG  MEETING." 

These  "big  meetings"  were  indeed  great  and 
promotive  of  much  good  at  that  time.  They  usu- 
ally continued  two  days.  The  ministers,  Albright, 
Walter,  Miller,  and  afterwards  others  also,  and 
the  members  from  far  and  near  assembled  together. 
After  having  sanctified  themselves  by  fasting 
and  prayer  for  these  occasions,  unusual  showers  of 
blessings  were  expected  and  received. 

On  October  25,  1806,  such  a  meeting  convened 

at  the  residence  of  Martin  Dreisbach,  Sen.,  in 

Buffalo   Valley,   Union    County,  Pennsylvania. 

G.  Miller  reports  it  as  follows :    "  Both  ministers 

and  people  assembled  —  I  was  appointed  to  preach 

the  first  sermon.    During  preaching  the  power  of 

God  came  upon  the  congregation  in  so  great  a 

measure,  that  many  fell  upon  their  knees,  and 

with  tears   besought  the  Lord   to   save  them. 

Albright  and  Walter  preached  with  power  and 

great  plainness,  so  that  the  meeting  was  finally 

blessed  with  a  mighty  outpouring  of  the  Spirit,  and 

in  all  the  rooms  of  the  house  the  cries  of  penitent 
7 


98 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


souls  were  heard,  and  many  were  converted  to 
God." 

After  this  meeting,  on  October  27,  Albright, 
Walter  and  Miller  covenanted  together,  to  prose- 
'Cute  the  work  of  God  with  still  greater  earnestness, 
;and  Albright  exhorted  the  other  two  brethren, 
-courageously  to  continue  in  the  work,  and  lead  as 
many  souls  to  Christ  as  they  possibly  could. 

These  men  were  noble  soldiers  for  Immanuel ! 
And  what  an  excellent  compact  they  entered  into 
among  themselves !  Should  not  this  noble  exam- 
ple be  imitated  by  Evangelical  preachers  every- 
where ? 

WHAT  A  SO-CALLED  "CHRIST"  DID. 

It  was  about  the  year  1807,  as  Albright  was  fill- 
ing an  appointment  at  Michael  Meess',  in  New 
Berlin,  Pa.,  that,  at  the  close  of  the  sermon,  a 
strong  man  by  the  name  of  Adam  Christ,  who  was 
known  as  a  fighter,  moved  towards  Albright,  and 
requested  him  to  step  out  of  the  house  with  him, 
inasmuch  as  he  wished  to  tell  him  something  pri- 
vately. A.  requested  very  mildly,  to  tell  him 
right  there  what  he  desired  to  say  to  him.  But 
Christ  insisted  that  A.  should  go  out  with  him, 
upon  which  he  arose  to  go.  Meanwhile,  John 
Dreisbach  whispered  to  A.  to  beware  of  this  man. 
Albright  made  an  attempt  to  go  back  again,  but 
Christ  seized  him  and  tried  to  force  him  out,  at 
the  same  time  trembling  like  a  leaf  Albright 


JACOB  ALBRIGHT. 


99 


remained  quiet  and  composed,  and  asked  C.  again 
what  he  wanted.  Outside  were  a  number  of 
roughs,  who  were  awaiting  Albright,  in  order  to 
abuse  him.  Brother  Dreisbach  then  came  to  his 
assistance,  and  warned  C.  not  to  injure  A.,  upon 
which  C.  yielded,  and  A.  returned  to  his  seat. 
Although  it  is  not  positively  known  that  Albright 
was  ever  actually  harmed,  yet  it  is  established 
that  he  was  frequently  in  danger  of  losing  his  life 
but  was  always  safely  and  remarkably  rescued  out 
of  the  hands  of  his  enemies.  Thus  the  Lord  is 
with  his  servants   every  day." 


100 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


CHAPTER  XI. 
The  First  Conference,  and  the  Closing  Labors  of  Albright. 


HIS  devout  man  had  now  preached  the  Gos- 


pel about  eleven  years,  under  violent  perse- 
cutions, and  almost  entirely  without  human  aid, 
and  finally  also  with  great  bodily  weakness.  God 
gave  the  increase  to  the  planting  and  waterings 
and  the  fruit  consisted  in  the  conversion  of  several 
hundred  persons,  among  whom  were  four  itinerant 
preachers,  three  local  preachers,  and  twenty  class- 
leaders  and  exhorters.  The  need  of  holding  a  reg- 
ular conference  was  now  felt. 

FIRST  CONFERENCE  — ALBRIGHT  IS  ELECTED  BISHOP. 

This  Conference  was  held  about  the  middle  of 
November,  1807,  in  the  house  of  Samuel  Becker, 
at  Muehlbach  (now),  Lebanon  County,  Pa.  All 
ministers  and  class-leaders  and  exhorters,  28  in 
number,  were  present.  By  this  Conference  Jacob 
Albright  was  elected  Bishop,  George  Miller,  Pre- 
siding Elder,  and  John  Dreisbach  and  J acob  Frey 
were  received  as  ministers  on  probation.  *    It  was 


*)  The  Conference  minutes  contain  the  following  paragraph  «er- 
latim:  "4.  Jacob  Albright  was  elected  Bishop  by  the  majority  of 
votes,  and  George  Miller  as  Elder."— At  the  "council"  in  1803, 
Albright  was  already  declared  and  ordained  "Elder,"  and  by  this 


ALBRIGHT'S  PAST  SUCCESS. 


JACOB  ALBEIGHT. 


101 


also  resolved,  that  Albright  should  compile  Articles 
of  Faith,  and  a  Discipline  for  the  Church,  which 
he  also  declared  himself  willing  to  do,  if  God 
should  give  him  health  and  prolong  his  life.  Here, 
then,  was  abundant  labor  for  this  enfeebled  man. 
Probably  no  one  had  any  presentiment,  that  al- 
ready in  the  course  of  a  few  months,  he  would 
enter  into  his  eternal  rest. 

FORM  OF  THE  FIRST  PREACHER'S  LICENSE. 

At  this  Conference  a  license  as  preacher  on  trial 
was  voted  to  John  Dreisbach,  which  is  not  only 
interesting  in  itself,  but  also  of  much  importance, 
as  it  is  written  and  signed  by  Albright  himself, — 
the  only  specimen  of  Albright's  hand-writing  that 
could  be  found,  after  searching  for  some  years, — 
and  also  because  it  is  a  historical  document  of  no 
small  import.    It  reads  as  follows : 


Conference,  in  1807,  he  was  elected  Bishop.  What  this  Conference 
understood  by  Bishop  is  very  clear,  if  we  consider  that  they  were 
Methodistic  in  their  teachings  and  practice.  Albright  himself  had 
been  a  zealous  Methodist,  and  was  still  such  in  spirit,  and  by  his  side 
the  M.  E.  Church  was  zealously  at  work,  with  their  devout  and  high- 
ly respected  Bishop  Asbury  at  the  head,  and  on  the  preacher's 
license  which  this  Conference  issued,  she  even  called  herself  the 
Newly- Formed  Methodist  Conference!"  Who  could  then  at  all  doubt 
that  this  conference  elected  Albright  Bishop  in  the  Methodistic 
sense?  This  office  was  not  looked  upon  by  them  as  a  mere  title. 
Jacob  Albright  was  elected  Bishop,  and  is,  according  to  the  action  of 
the  Conference,  and  the  wording  of  the  minutes,  without  contradiction 
the  first  Bishop  of  the  Evangelical  Association,  notwithstanding 
that  this  Church  assumed  her  present  name  at  a  later  period. 

[R.  Y.] 


102 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


"Upon  the  authority  of  the  Newly-Formed 
Methodist  Conference,  which  has  given  John  Dreis- 
bach  a  good  testimony,  and  is  wiUing  to  receive 
him  as  a  minister  into  our  Communion;  so  I,  the 
undersigned,  give  him  the  permission  to  serve  in 
the  office  according  to  our  regulation,  and  is  also 
appointed  thereto,  as  a  preacher  for  one  year  on 
trial,  if  he  conducts  himself  as  is  meet  according  to 
the  Word  of  God. 

The  14:th  of  November,  1807. 

Jacob  Albright.* 

This  document  proves  conclusively  that  at  that 
time  no  special  Church  name  had  been  chosen, 
simply  saying  "our  Communion."  At  the  second 
Conference,  held  in  1809,  the  name  adopted  was: 
"The  So-called  Albright's  People,"  later,  however, 
this  name  was  changed  to  ''Lie  Evangelische 
Gemeinschafty^'which  was  accepted  as  the  perma- 
nent Church  name.  For  the  time  being  the  Con- 
ference had  assumed  the  name  of :  "  The  Newly- 
Formed  Methodist  Conference,"  because  their  doc- 
trines and  methods  were  Methodistic.  These  facts 
again  show  that  it  was  not  the  purpose  of  Albright 
and  his  co-laborers  to  organize  a  new  denomination, 
and  simply  gather  a  crowd  of  ecclesiastical  follow- 
ers.   Seven  years  had  already  passed  since  the 


See  the  original  on  the  opposite  page.  It  can  be  very  readily- 
seen  that  Albright  wrote  with  a  trembling  hand.  Over  exertion  and 
exhaustion  of  his  physical  strength  were  plainly  visible. 


JACOB  ALBRIGHT. 


103 


formation  of  the  first  classes,  and  the  work  in  the 
meanwhile  had  spread  and  multiplied,  but  no 
Church  name  had  as  yet  been  adopted,  and  it 
seems  they  did  not  even  concern  themselves  about 
it.  Soul-saving  was  the  chief  purpose  and  business 
of  these  men  of  God.  Other  matters  of  minor 
importance  were  left  entirely  to  the  guidance  of 
Providence.  Albright's  opinion  in  reference  to  the 
origin  and  perpetuation  of  the  work,  he  clearly 
expressed,  shortly  before  his  death,  in  a  conversa- 
tion he  held  with  John  Dreisbach,  relating  to  the 
publication  of  Articles  of  Faith  and  a  Church  Dis- 
cipline, which  had  been  entrusted  to  Albright  by 
the  Conference,  but  which  he  was  unable  to  accom- 
plish. "  If  it  is  the  will  of  God  that  you  should  be 
and  remain  a  Church,  then  he  ivill  also  provide  for 
you  in  this  respect;  men  will  appear  among  you  who 
will  he  able  to  accomplish  that  which  I  shall  not  be 
able  to  do.  It  is  the  work  of  God,  and  it  is  in  his 
hands,  he  will  also  provide  for  ity 

The  will  and  providence  of  God  ruled  and  guided 
this  servant  of  Christ.  His  prophecy,  that  God 
would  call  "men  who  will  be  able  to  accomplish" 
the  work,  was  abundantly  fulfilled.  The  organi- 
zation of  the  Evangelical  Association  has  been 
divmely  confirmed,  in  spite  of  persecutions,  resolu- 
tions of  hostile  high-churchly  Synods,  composed  of 
highly  educated  (?)  gentlemen,  to  the  contrary 
notwithstanding ! 


104 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


CLOSING  LABORS. 

From  the  time  of  this  conference  session, 
Albright's  health  failed  very  rapidly,  yet  he  still 
traveled  and  labored  as  much  as  possible.  He  fre- 
quently accompanied  J ohn  Dreisbach  on  his  circuit, 
and  gave  him  much  useful  instruction,  of  which 
the  latter,  in  his  good  old  age,  often  spoke  to  the 
writer  of  this  book  with  great  interest.  He  con- 
ducted himself  towards  J.  D.  as  a  father  to  his  son. 
If  he  made  a  failure  in  preaching,  Albright  would 
encourage  him  again.  When  they  were  attacked 
by  wicked  men,  he  defended  him  in  a  manner  that 
the  mouths  of  the  enemies  were  stopped.  Here 
follows  an  example : 

'*  HAVE  SALT  IN  YOURSELVES." 

During  the  first  journey  of  Dreisbach,  in  com- 
pany with  Albright,  through  Lancaster  County, 
Pa.,  they  stopped  with  an  aged  farmer.  At  the 
sujDper  table  this  farmer  began  in  a  harsh  tone : 
^'Albright,  what  kind  of  a  young  man  is  this  whom 
you  brought  with  you?"  A.  answered  that  he 
was  from  Shamokin,  and  that  he  was  a  young 
minister.  Farmer :  "  He  a  minister  ?  If  it  will 
not  happen  to  him  as  it  did  to  a  young  Methodist 
minister,  who  came  into  this  neighborhood  and 
made  quite  a  stir,  until  he  became  too  intimately 
acquainted  with  a  young  girl,  and  was  compelled 
to  flee."    Albright  repulsed  this  disgraceful  attack 


JACOB  ALBBIGHT. 


105 


with  cutting  sarcasm,  by  answering:  "Such 
things  have  even  already  happened  to  old  men  J' 
The  farmer  being  himself  guilty,  of  course  he 
became  speechless.  The  next  day  Albright  asked 
Dreisbach  why  he  had  not  replied  to  the  farmer 
the  previous  evening.  Dreisbach  answered,  "  that 
he  did  not  consider  it  becoming  to  intrude  upon  a 
conversation  carried  on  between  two  older  persons, 
and  concluded  the  matter  should  be  a  warning,  and 
that  my  conduct  should  put  the  slanderer  to 
shame."  "  I  appreciate  your  modest  bearing,"  was 
Albright's  reply,  "however,  Christ  also  says: 
^  Have  salt  in  yourselves.'  " 

Albright  also  gave  Dreisbach  instructions  in  ref- 
erence to  proper  text  divisions,  and  exhorted  him  to 
be  careful  in  the  use  of  language,  especially  in  ref- 
erence to  the  use  of  the  Pennsylvania  German  dia- 
lect, in  the  pulpit. .  Albright  himself  was  very 
careful  in  the  proper  arrangement  of  his  sermons, 
as  well  as  in  the  use  of  language,  and  instructed 
his  preachers  on  these  things  properly,  of  which  the 
above  incident  furnishes  a  good  example.  Not- 
withstanding the  very  unfavorable  circumstances 
in  which  he  was  placed,  it  was  Albright's  aim  to 
become  as  fully  qualified  as  possible  to  perform  his 
ministerial  duties,  at  the  same  time  advising  the 
young  preachers  to  diligence  in  this  respect.  No 
doubt  if  he  were  still  among  us,  he  would  be  a  strong 
supporter  of  our  Evangelical  schools,  and  the  cause 


106 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OP 


of  education.  His  good  sense  would  not  allow  him 
to  occupy  any  other  position. 

HIS  OPINION  ABOUT  PUBLIC  WORSHIP. 

In  a  certain  meeting  the  exercises  were  becom- 
ing quite  lively,  some  shouting  in  an  unbecoming 
and  noisy  way.  He  seemed  to  dislike  these  bois- 
terous demonstrations^  and  cried  out  ironically: 
"Can  you  not  dance  more  gracefully'^'''  But  in 
another  meeting,  which  was  cold  and  dead,  which 
displeased  him  even  still  more,  he  whispered  to 
Dreisbach :  "It  is  so  cold  and  dead !  Oh,  pray ! 
pray ! "  While  he  was  heartily  in  favor  of  a  spir- 
itual worship,  he  disliked  extravagant  demonstra- 
tions. "  Christ  J esus  should  be  the  Master  of  the 
assembly." — Amen ! 

ALBRIGHT  A  GOOD  COUNSELLOR. 

In  almost  everything  Albright  was  able  to  give 
sound,  practical  advice.  Dreisbach  exchanged  his 
horse's  bridle  one  day  with  a  brother,  who  demanded 
of  him  25  cents  to  boot.  D.  gave  him  the  money, 
because  he  wished  to  have  the  bridle  on  account 
of  its  bit.  A.  told  him  afterwards,  "  You  should 
not  have  done  so,  for  3  our  bridle  was  worth  as 
much  as  the  other  —  we  should  be  economical  with 
money,  and  not  be  extravagant  with  it;  we  can 
often  use  it,  and  to  do  so  is  not  avarice."  Well 
said !  Money  can  be  used  very  advantageously  for 
missionary  and  educational  purposes,  for  the  erec- 


JACOB  ALBRIGHT. 


107 


tion  of  Church  edifices,  and  the  support  of  indigent 
ministers  and  children  of  God. 

THE  SINNER'S  BLACK  HEART. 

One  day  Albright  was  busy  in  greasing  his 
shoes,  which  in  those  days  was  a  general  custom, 
when  through  an  accident  the  oil  vessel  was  upset, 
the  contents  of  which  were  very  black,  upon  which 
he  remarked :     The  sinner's  heart  is  just  as  black." 

The  above  incidents  and  remarks  show  how 
ready  Albright  was  to  use  each  circumstance  for 
making  applications,  in  accordance  with  the  direc- 
tion of  God's  Word  :  Whatsoever  things  are  true^ 
....  if  there  is  any  virtue,  if  there  is  any  praise^ 
think  on  these  things." 

TELL  IT  TO  JESUS. 

J.  Dreisbach  once  complained  in  a  sermon,  that 
he  himself  realized  his  deficiency,  upon  which 
Albright  told  him  privately :  When  you  feel  your 
wants  again,  then  tell  it  to  Jesus,  but  do  not  com- 
plain of  it  to  your  hearers ;  it  will  not  help  them, 
nor  you  either."  Hence,  A.  did  not  look  with 
much  favor  upon  apologies  offered  by  Christ's- 
ambassadors. 

HOW  ALBRIGHT  TALKED  WITH  GOD. 

Albright  spent  much  time  in  secret  praj^er- 
Often  he  took  his  Bible  and  went  into  a  grove, 
where  he  read  God's  Word  and  prayed  until  he 
was  filled  with  the  Holy  Spirit. 

Dreisbach  once  met  bim  after  such  a  season  of 


108 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


prayer,  of  which  he  says :  "  Blessed  of  God,  Albright 
walked  backward  and  forward,  singing  softly  in 
deep  meditation,  manifesting  by  his  gestures  and 
movements  how  the  joy  of  the  Lord  filled  his  soul." 
This  paragraph  reveals  to  us  the  sanctuary  where 
Albright  sought  the  preparation  for  his  work,  and 
solves  the  problem  of  his  wonderful  success,  and 
shows  the  reasons  for  the  blessings  which  have 
rested  upon  the  labors  of  this  devout  man,  even 
unto  this  day. 

HE  USED  THE  -  LORD'S  PRAYER." 

Not  only  did  he  pray  from  his  heart  in  public 
and  private,  but  he  frequently  closed  his  prayers 
with  the  Lord's  prayer;  which  is  to  be  highly  rec- 
ommended. 

"  FOR  HE  WAS  A  GOOD  MAN." 

In  his  intercourse  with  individuals  of  all  ages 
and  positions,  he  always  conducted  himself  like  a 
true  Christian  gentleman.  Earnestness,  cheerful- 
ness, affability  and  firmness  were  beautifully 
blended  in  his  character,  being  "well  furnished 
unto  every  good  word  and  work."  Referring  to 
these  facts,  Bro.  Dreisbach  says:  "His  excellent 
instructions,  and  his  pious  example  were  very  use- 
ful to  me,  as  well  as  his  earnest  prayers,  his  child- 
like trust  in  God,  and  his  humble  submission  to 
his  holy  will.  These  things  made  deep  impressions 
upon  my  mind,  and  were  a  great  help  to  me  in  my 
calling  and  work  as  a  Christian  minister.  Oh, 


JACOB  ALBBIGHT. 


109« 


what  a  blessing  to  a  young  preacher  to  have  such 
a  leader  and  counsellor!"  On  another  occasion 
Bro.  D.  remarked :  "  Albright  was  a  man  of  whomi 
we  have  no  occasion  to  be  ashamed  in  any  respect." 

The  piety  and  activity  of  this  man  of  God  speak 
in  a  loud  voice,  especially  to  his  successors,  the 
ministers  of  the  Evangelical  Association.  Oh,  that 
all  might  heed  it,  and  take  the  lessons  it  gives« 
deeply  to  heart! 

A  WONDERFUL  MEETING. 

During  the  Winter  of  1808  it  happened  that 
Albright,  in  his  travels  to  seek  lost  souls  and  lead 
them  to  Christ,  arrived  during  a  snow-storm  at  the 
house  of  Peter  Radenbach,  near  Lingelstown, 
Dauphin  County,  Pa.,  and  asked  for  a  night's  lodg- 
ing,  Avhich  was  granted  him.  Towards  evening 
the  storm  abated,  and  the  heavens  became  clear. 
Meanwhile  Albright  had  made  himself  known  a& 
a  preacher  of  the  Gospel,  and  asked  whether  he 
would  be  permitted  to  preach  there  that  evening. 
There  was  no  objection  raised.  Radenbach  sent 
word  around  in  the  neighborhood  that  a  strange 
minister  had  come,  who  would  preach  at  his  house 
on  that  evening.  The  neighbors  wondered  what 
this  meant,  for  R.  was  a  leader  and  chorister  of 
the  Lutheran  Church,  and  in  general  a  respectable 
and  loyal  Churchman  —  and  that  now  there  should 
be  preaching  in  his  house  by  a  stranger^  this  was 
something  new. 


110 


LIFE  AND  LABOES  OF 


Notwithstanding  the  snow,  the  room  was  filled 
with  people.  Albright  took  for  his  text  1  John 
1.  9  :  "  If  we  confess  our  sins,  he  is  faithful  and  just 
to  forgive  us  our  sins,  and  to  cleanse  us  from  all 
unrighteousness."  His  theme  was :  "  Salvation 
from  sin,"  which  in  that  section  was  a  new,  yea, 
.an  unknown  doctrine.  The  sermon  was  delivered 
in  a  clear  and  impressive  manner,  and  every  point 
fully  established  by  the  Scriptures.  Toward  the 
close  of  the  sermon  some  of  his  hearers  became 
very  restive  under  the  earnest,  searching  truths, 
and  one  arose  and  said:  "This  is  preaching  too 
sharply."  Another  arose  and  asked  Albright : 
"Do  you  mean  me?  You  have  preached  at  me!" 
Albright  replied :  "  Yes,  my  friend,  if  it  fits  you, 
then  I  mean  you."  Radenbach,  however,  being 
a  man  of  considerable  influence  among  his  neigh- 
bors, soon  restored  order.  After  the  meeting 
was  closed,  there  was  quite  a  stir  among  the  peo- 
ple as  to  whether  the  stranger  had  taught  errors  or 
truth.  The  majority  seemed  to  think  he  was  too 
severe.  After  all  had  departed,  except  a  brother 
of  Mr.  Kadenbach,  the  latter  said  to  Albright : 
"You  have  preached  a  strange  doctrine  —  that  we 
-can  and  must  be  made  free  from  sin  —  our  minis- 
ters do  not  teach  thus.  I  have  attended  divine 
service  from  my  youth  up,  but  have  never  heard 
anything  like  it-"  Albright  replied:  "My  dear 
sir,  to  the  law  and  to  the  testimony.    The  Word 


JACOB  ALBEIGHT. 


Ill 


of  God  must  decide  these  questions.  Here  is  the 
Bible ;  please  read  it  for  yourself,  and  be  convinced 
whether  what  I  have  taught  you  is  true  or  not. 
If  what  I  have  taught  cannot  be  established  by  the 
Bible,  I  will  recede  from  the  position  which  I 
have  taken."  Radenbach  then  read  the  entire 
chapter  from  which  the  text  had  been  selected, 
and  also  referred  to  the  Catechism.  He  was 
very  soon  convinced  that  Albright's  teaching 
was  Scriptural.  But  after  the  books  were  laid 
aside,  he  remarked  that  he  could  not  fully  compre- 
hend the  matter.  Albright  then  exhorted  both 
of  the  brothers  in  an  affectionate  manner,  and 
advised  them  to  search  the  Scriptures  earnestly,  in 
order  to  discover  the  truth.  Radenbach  then  said 
to  his  brother:  "There  is  really  something  not 
right  with  us ;  we  have  been  kept  in  blindness,  for 
this  man  has  proven  his  doctrine  by  the  Word  of 
God."  Upon  which  his  brother  angrily  exclaimed : 
"Yes!  if  this  man  was'nt  a  ^  Knierutscher,  it  might 
be  true;  but  our  minister  has  never  preached 
thus."  The  conversation  then  closed,  but  Albright's 
sermon  and  exhortations  had  made  a  deep  impres- 
sion. Good  seed  had  been  sown.  He  left  another 
appointment  for  Sabbath  morning.  In  the  mean- 
while, however,  there  arose  a  great  excitement  in 
the  neighborhood.    At  the  appointed  time  a  mul- 


*)  One  who  prays  kneeling. 


112 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


titude  of  people  assembled  to  hear  and  see  this 
''''seducer.''^  Albright  preached  with  great  power^ 
but  was  compelled  to  close  early,  in  order  to  reach 
his  appointment  in  the  afternoon.  At  the  same 
time  a  number  of  persons  had  met  in  the  churchy 
but  it  was  proposed  to  have  no  service,  but  to  go 
to  Radenbach's  and  drive  the  ^^Strawelers^^  away^ 
else  R.  would  be  led  astray,  and  the  congregation 
would  lose  its  chorister.  The  proposition  was 
immediately  and  eagerly  accepted  by  all  present, 
but  on  coming  to  the  house,  they  found  the  meet- 
ing closed,  and  all  of  Radenbach's  family  had  gone 
along  with  Albright  to  the  afternoon  meeting  at 
Becker's.  Disappointed  and  vexed,  they  returned 
to  their  homes,  saying:  "All  is  lost;  they  are  now 
led  astraj^"  Sometime  afterwards  a  two-days' 
meeting  was  held  at  this  same  place,  when 
Albright,  Walter  and  Miller  were  present.  A 
great  multitude  of  people,  who  were  in  a  great 
measure  possessed  with  the  spirit  of  persecution, 
had  assembled.  The  pressure  of  the  power  of 
darkness  seemed  to  rest  upon  the  meeting  until 
Sabbath  morning,  when  John  Walter  began  to 
preach.  The  power  of  God  now  came  upon  the 
congregation,  so  that  sinners  literall}''  fell  to  the 
ground,  as  if  they  had  been  shot  down.  Some 


*)  A  word  taken  from  Satan's  vocabulary,  literally  translated— 
scramblers.  [ß-  Y.} 


JACOB  ALBRIGHT. 


113; 


called  aloud  for  mercy,  others  were  speechless. 
These  manifestations  caused  great  consternation 
among  the  people,  the  persecutors  seeming  as  if 
bound  with  fetters.  The  labors  with  the  penitents^ 
continued  uninterruptedly  until  the  following  morn- 
ing! Wonderful  conversions  took  place.  One 
woman  suddenly  cried  out:  '^0  Jesus!  I  shall 
be  lost !  —  lost ! !  "  Her  husband  wanted  to  take 
her  away,  but  soon  such  a  terror  fell  upon  him 
that  he  hastily  ran  away.  The  woman  came  back 
again  to  the  meeting  and  prayed,  until  Jesus  spoke 
peace  to  her  soul. 

Nothing  could  now  check  the  work.  A  class 
was  organized.  Radenbach  and  his  wife  also  found 
peace  with  God,  and  united  with  the  despised  little 
flock  of  praying  people.  * 

On  Easter-day,  1808,  a  "big  meeting"  was  held 
in  Albany  Township,  Berks  County,  Pa.,  in  the 
house  of  John  Brobst,  where  Albright  stationed 
the  preachers  for  the  ensuing  year.  A.  did  this 
usually  at  "  big  meetings,"  after  consultation  with 
the  preachers,  and  often  also  with  the  leaders  and 
the  most  experienced  members.  Seldom  did  the 
ministers  travel  a  whole  year  upon  a  circuit,  some- 
times only  from  six  to  eight  months,  but  from  this 


*)  A  son  of  Peter  Radenbach  related  the  above,  and  his  report  was 
substantially  confirmed  by  John  Dreisbach,  and  corrected  in  one 
point  relative  to  a  date.'  It  furnishes  an  example  of  tba  labors,  strug- 
gles and  triumphs  of  Albright  and  his  co-laborers.  [R.  Y.] 
8 


114 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


time  forth  they  mostly  remained  a  year.  This 
meeting  was  crowned  with  God's  rich  blessing. 
Eight  days  later  another  "big  meeting"  commenced 
at  P.  Radenbach's,  where,  besides  Albright,  G.  Mil- 
ler and  John  Dreisbach  were  also  present.  But 
Albright  had  failed  so  much  in  health  for  some 
time,  that  he  was  not  able  to  preach  at  this  meet- 
ing. Here  he  extended  the  parting  hand  for  the 
last  time,  and  while  doing  so,  he  said  to  Dreisbach : 
Contend  unto  blood  and  life  to  press  into  the 
kingdom  of  God." 

During  one  of  these  last  meetings  he  gave  his 
co-laborers  the  following  remarkable  and  excellent 
admonition :  "  In  all  that  you  do^  or  think  of  do- 
ing^ let  your  object  he  to  enhance  God's  glory ^  and 
advance  the  work  of  his  grace  in  your  own  hearts^ 
as  well  as  among  your  brethren  and  sisters ;  and  be 
diligent  co-workers  in  the  way  which  God  has  jpointed 
out  to  yoUy  to  which  he  will  grant  you  his  blessing. 

These  words  are  worthy  to  serve  as  a  motto  for 
every  Conference,  and  every  preacher  and  officer 
in  the  Evangelical  Association.  Only  when  we 
preserve  this  truly  Evangelical  mind  and  spirit, 
can  God  carry  out  his  purpose  through  us  as  a 
Church. 


JACOB  ALBEIÖHT. 


115 


RETROSPECTION. 

Our  esteemed  Albright  had  now  arrived  at  the 
terminus  of  his  itinerant  life,  which  he  had  prose- 
cuted for  about  twelve  years,  amidst  indescribable 
hardships,  persecutions  and  struggles,  for  the  honor 
of  God,  and  the  salvation  of  precious  souls. 

His  health  now  rapidly  failed,  and  only  a  few 
weeks  before  his  decease  he  started  homeward  to 
die.  What  thoughts  revolved  in  his  mind  at  this 
time,  in  the  review  of  the  past,  may  be  gleaned 
from  the  following  touching  words,  found  among 
his  papers:  "And  now  I  thank  God,  the  Most 
High;  and  to  him  be  eternal  praise  for  his  grace, 
which  he  has  given  unto  me  —  that  he  has  kept 
me  steadfast  in  the  faith  and  pure  in  life,  through 
trials,  persecutions  and  sufferings,  which  have 
befallen  me  in  this  life,  permitting  me  to  ^see  that 
his  grace  was  not  bestowed  upon  me  in  vain. 
The  seals  of  my  minisüy  are  the  converted  brethren 
and  sisters,  whom  I  have  begotten  through  the 
Gospel,  and  whom  I  am  certain  to  meet  again  in 
heaven,  if  they  remain  steadfast  in  faith,  love,  and 
hope.  And  I  trust  firmly  in  God,  that  unto  me 
will  be  given  the  inheritance  of  the  saints  in  light 
— an  incorruj^tible  crown^ 


116 


LIFE  AND  LAB0S8  OF 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Albright's  Sickness  and  Death. 

y^LBRIGHT'S  sickness  was  quick  consumption^ 
brought  on  by  over-exertion  and  exhaustion 
On  his  way  home  from  Linglestown,  he  became  so 
weak  that  he  was  compelled  to  stop  at  Muehlbach 
(now  Klinefeltersville,  Lebanon  County),  at  the 
house  of  Mr.  George  Becker.  On  entering  the 
house  he  said  :  "  Have  you  my  bed  ready,  I  have 
come  to  die."  Here  he  laid  himself  down  to 
breathe  his  last.  During  his  illness  he  enjoyed 
intimate  communion  with  God,  and  yet  it  is  very 
remarkable  that  he  was  once  more  called  upon  to 
pass  through  a  severe  trial,  during  which  he  ear- 
nestly called  upon  the  Lord  for  help.  A  number  of 
brethren  and  sisters  who  had  come  to  visit  him, 
were  deeply  affected  by  his  humble  prayers  of 
trust,  and  united  with  him  in  his  supplications. 
Soon  he  achieved  a  glorious  and,  as  it  proved,  his 
last  and  eternal  victory !  He  praised  God  that  he 
was  permitted  to  die  surrounded  by  the  people  of 
God,  instead  of  the  children  of  this  world,  whose 
only  conversation  is  concerning  the  affairs  of  this 
life.  His  joy  in  the  Lord  was  now  so  great,  that 
he  called  upon  those  present  to  help  him  praise 
the  Lord.  His  dying  chamber  seemed  to  be  the 
very  gate  of  heaven,  and  filled  with  the  presence 


J 

/ 


JACOB  ALBEIGHT. 


117 


bf  God.  Thus  he  spent  a  few  days  until  his  last 
hours  on  earth  approached.  George  Miller  saj^s : 
^'  He  retained  the  perfect  use  of  his  mental  facul- 
ties to  the  last.  A  tranquillity  of  mind,  which 
only  the  consciousness  of  a  well  spent  life  of  good 
works  and  noble  deeds,  and  the  assurance  of  eter- 
nal life  and  future  blessedness  can  give,  could  be 
seen  upon  his  countenance.  He  bade  an  affecting 
and  affectionate  farewell  to  those  who  were  present, 
requesting  them  to  unite  with  him  in  praising  God, 
"who  would  soon  take  his  soul  unto  himself  He  grate- 
fully praised  his  Maker  for  his  providential  care 
over  him,  and  for  the  guidance  of  his  hand,  through 
which  he  was  led  to  experience  peace  and  joy,  and 
a  living  hope  through  faith  in  God.  No  one  pres- 
ent remained  unaffected.  Everj^one  felt  a  strong 
desire  to  die  as  did  this  righteous  man."  One  of 
those  present  says :  "  Thus  our  pious  Albright 
calmly  and  peacefully  fell  asleep  in  Jesus.  During 
the  time  he  bade  adieu  to  his  friends  with  great 
joy,  the  house  seemed  to  be  filled  with  the  power 
of  God.  The  children  of  God  felt  that  heaven  was 
near,  and  praised  God  for  the  manifestation  of  his 
pow;er." 

Thus  this  servant  of  God  entered  into  his  rest 
May  18,  A.  D.  1808,  in  the  fiftieth  year  of  his  life. 

HIS  FUNERAL. 

On  May  20th  the  funeral  took  place.  A  large 
concourse  of  people  were  in  attendance,  among 


118  LIPE  AND  LABOES  OF  i 

whom  was  a  large  number  of  those  who^  had  been  ! 
enlightened  through  his  teachings  and  labors.  ■ 
John  Walter,  his  first  co-laborer,  delivered  a  power-  | 
ful  and  affecting  funeral  discourse  from  Dan.  12.  3: 
"  They  that  be  wise  shall  shine  as  the  brightness 
of  the  firmament;  and  they  that  turn  many  to  I 
righteousness,  as  the  stars  for  ever  and  ever."  An  \ 
eye  witness  reports  as  follows:  ^'A  number  of  i 
Albright's  spiritual  children  accompanied  his  i 
remains  to  their  resting  place.  Many  were  so  i 
richly  blessed,  that  they  praised  God  with  shouting  ' 
and  joy  for  his  unspeakable  grace.  Among  the 
people,  in  general,  the  happy  death  of  this  man  of  | 
God,  and  the  richly  blessed  funeral  sermon,  pro-  ' 
duced  a  deep  conviction  and  awakening.  Several  j 
of  the  inhabitants  made  application  to  the  preach-  ^ 
ers,  before  they  left  the  place,  to  have  preaching  | 
in  their  houses.  Among  them  was  Philip  Breiden- 
stein, who  afterwards  became  a  useful  local  \ 
preacher.  In  this  way  our  sainted  brother  was,  ) 
even  in  death,  an  instrument  in  the  hands  of  God  - 
to  spread  the  Gospel  and  true  Christianity."  \ 
Albright's  remains  were  buried  in  a  family  cem-  * 
etery,  where  several  years  ago  the  "Albright  ] 
Church"  was  erected  to  his  memory.  Upon  a  \ 
plain  tombstone  is  the  following  inscription  :  "  In  ^ 
memory  of  the  Evangelical  preacher,  Jacob  ' 
Albright.  Born  May  1st,  1759,  and  died  May  18,  j 
1808,  aged  49  years  and  17  days.    His  remains  '] 


•1 


JACOB  ALBRIGHT. 


119 


rest  under  this  stone.  ^Precious  in  the  sight  of 
the  Lord  is  the  death  of  his  saints.'    (Ps.  116. 15.)'* 

IMMEDIATE  RESULTS. 

To  the  ministers,  who  clung  to  Albright  with 
most  intense  love  as  true  children  to  a  good 
father^  his  sudden  departure  was  a  most  painful 
shock.  ^'Thej  often  gave  vent  to  their  feelings 
in  the  most  sorrowful  weeping,  and  their  grief 
would  have  become  almost  intolerable,  if  their  love 
to  him  had  not  wished  him  the  enjoj^ment  of 
sweet  rest,  after  his  days  of  hardship,  and  if  God's 
'  promises  had  not  been  their  strength  and  comfort." 
The  membership,  which  largely  consisted  of  his 
spiritual  children,  also  deeply  mourned  on  account 
of  the  loss  of  their  spiritual  father. 

But  the  world  laughed  and  triumphed :  "  Now 
they  are  defeated ;  Albright  is  dead,  and  now  it 
is  all  over  with  them,"  etc.  "  But,"  said  G.  Miller, 
"in  this  they  greatly  erred  ;  though  Albright  had 
died,  God  still  lived,  who  owned  this  work  as  his, 
and  hence  also  knew  how  to  prosper  and  spread 
the  same.  Thanks  be  unto  the  high  and  glorious 
God,  who  does  not  despise  the  lowly  and  the  hum- 
ble, but  rather  chooses  them  for  his  possession." 

Albright's  death  had  the  tendency  to  induce 
preachers  and  people  to  consecrate  themselves 
more  fully  to  God  and  his  work,  and  the  work  of 
the  Lord  grew  mightily  unto  this  day,  so  that  the 
remarkable  prophecy  of  Isa.  60.  22,  was  literally 


120 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OP 


fulfilled  in  the  growth  of  the  Evangelical  Associa- 
tion :  "  A  little  one  shall  become  a  thousand,  and 
a  small  one  a  strong  nation ;  I,  the  Lord,  will  has- 
ten it  in  his  time."  Hallelujah! 


JACOB  ALBRIGHT. 


121 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Closing  Remarks  and  Testimonies. 

QEORGE  Miller,  who  knew  Albright  well,  and 
had  watched  him  closely,  has  given  the  fol- 
lowing testimony,  which  may  well  be  inserted  at 
this  place :  ^'  This  godly  man  had  preached  the 
Gospel  nearly  twelve  years.  The  immediate  fruit 
of  his  labors  was  the  conversion  of  three  hundred 
souls,  who  were  diligently  striving  to  serve  God, 
and  have  no  fellowship  with  the  unfruitful  works 
of  darkness.  They  strove  to  build  each  other  up 
in  the  unity  of  faith,  in  accordance  with  the  com- 
mand of  Christ  and  his  apostles,  and  the  directions 
of  their  faithful  teacher.  These  directions  and  Arti- 
cles of  Faith  and  Church  Discipline  were  printed 
about  a  year  after  his  death.  They  wrought  great 
good,  and  led  many  into  the  way  of  truth  and  the 
true  knowledge  of  God.  His  public  prayers  and 
sermons  were  powerful,  penetrating  and  convinc- 
ing, although  delivered  in  a  simj)le  manner,  not 
with  enticing  words  of  human  wisdom,  but  he  spake 
as  one  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  the  power  of 
whicli  manifested  itself  in  all  his  addresses.  Love 
for  his  fellow  men  seemed  to  pervade  him;  he 
prayed  for  his  enemies  and  persecutors,  and  neg- 
lected no  opportunity  to  promote  their  salvation, 
and  to  lead  them  into  the  path  of  truth.    Even  his 


122 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


gestures,  looks  and  movements  often  revealed  the 
presence  of  God's  Spirit  within  him,  so  that  his 
hearers  were  deeply  affected,  without  the  utterance 
of  many  words  on  his  part;  and  there  were  times 
when  he  entirely  forgot  his  body  and  himself,  and 
such  a  degree  of  inspiration  was  upon  him  that  he 
moved  from  the  desk  into  the  middle  of  the  room, 
without  perceiving  it  himself.  When  these  strong 
emotions  filled  his  soul,  wonderful  expressions  of 
joy  were  seen  in  his  countenance,  and  praises  to  God 
flowed  from  his  lips,  and  his  whole  being  was  in 
motion.  Whatever  comes  from  the  heart  reaches 
the  heart,  and  hence  his  hearers  were  usually  so 
touched,  that  the  seed  of  the  Word  did  not  fall  among 
thorns,  but  bore  precious  fruit.  He  discharged  his 
ministerial  duties  with  earnestness  and  punctuali- 
ty; he  never  neglected  to  attend  an  appointed 
meeting,  if  the  condition  of  his  health  would  in  any 
wise  permit  him  to  be  there,  nor  did  he  merely  dis- 
charge his  ministerial  duties  as  such,  but  fulfilled 
them  with  delight  and  joy.  He  was  diligent  in 
cultivating  and  promoting  spiritual  union  with  and 
among  his  brethren;  watching  with  paternal  solic- 
itude over  their  conduct,  himself  being  a  good 
example,  endeavoring  to  the  best  of  his  ability  to 
promote  true  holiness  of  heart  among  them. 

"  The  persecutions  and  sufferings  which  Albright 
was  compelled  to  endure  for  Christ's  sake,  he  bore 
with  great  patience,  offsetting  them  with  gentleness 


JACOB  ALBRIGHT. 


123 


and  kindness,  considering  the  grace  of  God  which 
he  had  received  such  a  great  blessing,  that  all  the 
sufferings  of  this  life  bore  no  comparison  to  the  joy 
it  afforded.  He  therefore  remained  constantly 
steadfast  in  the  doctrine  of  Christ,  in  calling  sin- 
ners to  repentance  and  faith,  and  in  urging  believ- 
ers to  follow  after  holiness,  and  thus  he  became  a 
chosen  vessel  of  God  in  promoting  the  revival  of 
true  godliness,  for  the  grace  of  God  rested  visibly 
upon  him  and  his  work.  None  of  his  enemies^ 
though  trying  their  utmost,  could  do  him  the  least 
harm,  for  in  all  that  he  did,  he  sought  the  glory  of 
God.  This  was  one  of  the  chief  principles  that 
governed  his  life,  and  which  he  also  always 
endeavored  to  inculcate.  He  lived  nearly  eighteen 
years  in  a  state  of  grace,  and  realized  many  expe- 
riences of  the  gracious  providence  and  protection 
of  God  in  his  earthly  career." 

From  this  short  description  it  is  clear  that  those 
persons  who  live  up  to  his  teaching  and  discipline, 
have  no  need  of  beina:  ashamed  to  acknowledsre 
that  they  became  acquainted  with  God  and  Christ 
through  the  instructions  of  this  faithful  teacher, 
neither  of  the  fact  that  they  are  called  Albrights^ 
partly  from  mockery,  and  partly  also  because  they 
received  the  true  knowledge  of  God  through  his 
teaching,  and  the  assurance  that  they,  with  all  true 
Christians,  belong  to  Christ,  and  in  no  wise  desire 
to  be  separated  from  such  as,  in  the  mortification 


124 


LIFE  AND  LABOES  OF 


of  all  carnal  and  sinful  lusts  and  desires,  have  con- 
secrated their  lives  wholly  to  God,  and  in  truth, 
•uprightness,  and  without  disguise  or  hypocrisy  fol- 
low Christ. 

John  Dreisbach,  who  was  his  co-laborer,  and 
others  who  were  well  acquainted  with  him,  furnish 
the  following  facts :  As  a  preacher  Albright  was 
very  cheerful  and  amiable,  yet  very  discreet  and 
thoughtful.  He  was  an  early  riser,  searched  dili- 
gently in  the  Scriptures,  and  lived  a  devoted  life. 
At  times  he  retired  to  a  grove  with  his  Bible  for 
meditation  and  prayer.  When  stopping  with  a 
family,  he  frequently  went  to  a  room  alone,  and 
spent  hours  in  prayer  before  preaching.  After  the 
people  were  assembled,  he  came  from  his  closet  so 
filled  with  God's  Spirit,  that  his  countenance 
seemed  to  verify  the  language  of  the  poet : 

"  In  seinem  Angesichte  flammt 
Die  Weisheit y  die  von  oben  stammt T 

^'The  wisdom  coming  from  above  glowed  in  his 
face." 

This  made  such  impressions  upon  the  people 
that  at  times  deep  emotions  were  awakened  by  the 
heavenly  expression  of  Albright's  countenance,  even 
before  he  arose  to  preach.  In  his  private  intercourse 
with  the  people,  he  spoke  very  appropriately  about 
conversion,  and  the  necessity  of  growth  in  the  divine 
life.    He  was  very  apt  in  the  use  of  incidents  and 


JACOB  ALßEIGHT. 


125 


circumstances.  At  a  certain  time  he  met  the  peo- 
ple, where  he  was  staying,  at  work  in  their  garden. 
He  used  the  occasion  for  a  sermon,  saying  that 
Christ  sweat  great  drops  of  blood  in  the  garden  of 
Gethsemane,  in  order  that  their  hearts  might 
become  the  garden  of  the  Lord.  Being  on  a  visit 
at  the  house  of  his  brother  Daniel,  who  violently 
opposed  him,  he  wrote  upon  the  fly-leaf  of  the  fam- 
üy  Bible: 

"  Viet  besser  nie  gehören 
Als  eiüiglich  verloren,''^ 

"  Much  better  ne'er  to  have  been  bom 
Than  be  forever  lost." 

His  brother  was  afterwards  converted,  and  died 
happy  in  the  Lord. 

A  cotemporary  of  Albright  relates  the  following 
remarkable  occurrence,  which  brings  his  Christian 
forbearance,  under  the  severe  persecutions  that 
befell  him,  into  prominence :  "  At  the  time  when 
the  turnpike  was  built  from  Reading  to  Womels- 
dorf, Berks  County,  Pa.  (date  not  given),  a  number 
of  persons  were  employed  who  were  persecutors  of 
this  servant  of  God.  One  day,  as  Albright  passed 
along  on  horseback,  they  picked  up  stones  and 
threw  them  after  him  in  such  a  way  as  to  imperil 
his  life.  What  was  now  to  be  done?  Albright 
dismounted,  fell  upon  his  knees  in  the  middle  of 
the  street,  under  a  shower  of  stones,  and  called 


126 


LIFE  AND  LABOES  OP 


upon  God,  as  Stephen  once  did,  that  he  might  have 
mercy  upon  his  persecutors  !  His  prayer  had  such 
an  effect  upon  his  enemies,  that  they  immediately 
quit  throwing  stones,  and  after  a  few  minutes 
walked  off,  and  Albright  could  pass  on  without 
molestation."  Here  the  words  of  Holy  Scripture 
may  be  fittingly  applied :  "  Remember  them  which 
have  the  rule  over  you,  who  have  spoken  unto  you 
the  Word  of  God,  whose  faith  follow^  considering 
the  end  of  their  conversation"   (Heb.  13.7.) 

Albright  kept  his  clothing  and  person  very 
cleanly  and  tidily,  thereby  furnishing  an  example, 
that  cleanliness  and  godliness  are  closely  related, 
and  that  the  Christian's  body  should  be  kept  pure, 
as  a  temple  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Towards  the 
young  ministers  he  acted  like  a  father.  If  one  of 
them  did  not  succeed  in  preaching,  he  encouraged 
him.  If  they  were  attacked  by  wicked  men,  he 
defended  them.  His  sermons  were  delivered  with 
the  demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and  with  power, 
quoting  the  Scriptures  very  freely  in  his  discourses ; 
he  "preached  the  Word,"  and  was  "mighty  in  the 
Scriptures."  Not  unfrequently  he  spoke  so 
impressively  and  affectingly,  that  the  congregation 
were  carried  with  him,  and  moved  to  tears.  In  a 
pleasant  and  moderate  tone  of  voice,  he  slowly 
began  his  sermon  until  he  had  finished  the  intro- 
duction, after  which  his  speech  flowed  like  a  stream, 
and  produced  extraordinary  results. 


JACOB  ALBBiaHT. 


127 


CLOSING  REMARKS. 

Here,  then,  we  must  leave  this  servant  of  God, 
who,  during  this  necessarily  imperfect  description 
and  contemplation  of  his  simple,  practical,  blessed 
and  important  life,  has  become  dear  to  our  heart — 
without  attempting  to  solve  the  mystery  of  his 
^arly  departure.  With  grief  we  call  after  him: 
"  My  father !  my  father !  the  chariot  of  Israel  and 
the  horsemen  thereof!"  Gladly  we  wish  him  the 
great  joy  of  which  he  is  now  the  partaker,  in  con- 
tinually welcoming  in  "  that  world  above  "  the 
saved  who  have  entered  the  kingdom  of  God  as  the 
fruit  of  his  labor.  How  many  among  the  heavenly 
host  are  already  praising  God  that  Jacob  Albright 
became  a  saved  man !  And  many  thousands  on 
earth  are  joining  their  voices  with  those  in 
heaven!  May  their  numbers  on  earth  and  in 
heaven  increase  to  hundreds  of  thousands!  "And 
let  all  the  peojole  say,  Amen  !  " 


I 

j 
1 

\ 

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I 

i 


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1 


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i 


GLIMPSES 


OF  THE 


LIFE  AND  LABORS 


OF 


EEY.  JOHH  WALTER, 


FIRST  CO-LABORER 


OF 


JACOB  ALBRIGHT. 


«=AN  ELOQUENT  MAN  AND  MIGHTY  IN  THE  SCRIPTURES. 

Acts  i8.  24. 


9 


129 


Preface. 


'TX)  write  a  biography  of  John  Walter,  and  to  present  its 
particulars  in  a  chronological  order,  as  they  succeeded 
each  other  in  his  life,  is  an  impossibility.  A  few  fragments 
only  could  be  found,  mostly  without  date,  but  these  are  so 
very  precious  and  interesting,  that  the}'  onl}-  intensify  the 
desire  that  a  histor}^  of  his  entire  life  might  be  had  in  a 
detailed  and  chronological  order.  Walter  left  no  written 
record  concerning  himself,  and  hence,  after  the  lapse  of  58 
years  since  his  death,  we  were  compelled  to  take  such  testi- 
monies and  reports  as  were  yet  obtainable.  But  even  from 
these  fragments  it  can  be  plainh'  seen,  that  he  was  a  distin- 
guished sen^ant  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  a  star  of  the 
first  magnitude  in  the  heavens  of  the  Evangelical  Church, 
whose  equal,  especially  in  the  exposition  of  the  Scriptures 
and  powerful  preaching,  according  to  the  testimony  of  a  num- 
ber of  the  fathers,  has  hardly  yet  appeared  among  us  since. 
That  the  Head  of  the  Church,  right  at  the  beginning  of  the 
Evangelical  Association,  blessed  her  with  this  man,  whom  he 
chose  from  among  the  common  people  of  this  world,  and 
through  him  put  to  nought  the  "  strong  and  noble,"  is  evi- 
dence that  Grod  has  had  his  hand  in  the  work  from  the  very 
beginning.  R.  Y. 


131 


CONTENTS, 


Preface   131 

Joha  Walters  descent   133 

Hears  Albright  preach   133 

Goes  honje  with  Albright   134 

He  accompanies  him  to  his  appointments  ^  134 

"The  Divine  foolishness  is  wiser  than  men  are."   134 

"He  preached  with  power,  and  not  like  the  scribes. "   134 

What  Dr.  Schmucker  said  of  him   135 

Testimony  of  an  old  Methodist  preacher   136 

What  H.  Niebel  reports  of  Walter   136 

A  testimon}-  of  Bishop  Seybert   137 

A  remarkable  occurrence     137 

A  remarkable  meeting   138 

What  Adam  Ettinger  reports  of  Walter   139 

A  powerful  sermon  ^  142 

Walter  lost  in  the  woods   143 

A  three  hours'  sermon  in  a  meadow   144 

A  fragment  of  another  sermon   149 

A  sketch  of  another  sermon      150 

Walter  at  camp-meetings   151 

"This  Spirit  is  too  strong  for  me."   152 

"We  shall  yet  possess  the  land."   152 

John  Walter's  texts     153 

Further  examples  of  Walter's  labors   154 

What  John  Breidenstein  says  of  Walter   156 

Walter's  poetical  talent  •   156 

Walter's  family   l^*^ 

A  few  letters  to  his  wife   158 

A  letter  from  John  Erb  to  John  Walter   161 

The  last  years'  labor   164 

His  closing  year  upon  earth   165 

His  last  weeks   166 

(132) 


LIFE  AND  LABORS 

—  OF  — 

JOHN  WALTER. 


HIS  DESCENT. 

JOHN  Walter  was  born  on  August  21,  1781,  near 
Quakertown,  Bucks  County.  Pa.  His  parents, 
it  apj)ears,  were  very  poor,  and  John  received  a 
ver}'  limited  education,  so  that  when  he  com- 
menced to  preach,  he  was  compelled  to  spell  his 
texts.  He  was  a  man  of  small  stature,  somewhat 
below  medium  size,  physically  well  built,  and  quite 
muscular.  It  seems  he  learned  basket  making, 
and  also  the  tailor  trade  before  he  was  of  age. 

HEARS  ALBRIGHT  PREACH. 

As  Jacob  Albright,  upon  his  first  journey  to 
Bucks  County,  preached  in  his  father's  house,  and 
also  at  Chas.  Bissy's,  John  heard  him,  and  was 
awakened  and  converted.  Concerning  the  partic- 
ulars of  his  conversion,  nothing  could  be  ascer- 
tained at  this  late  date,  but  that  his  experience 

was  truly  Biblical  is  evident  from  his  life. 

133 


134 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


GOES  HOME  WITH  ALBRIGHT. 

Walter  became  so  attached  to  his  spiritual 
father,  that  he  resolved  to  go  with  him  to  Lancas- 
ter County,  Pa.,  to  learn  the  brick  and  tile  trade, 
while  Albright  was  traveling  and  preaching. 

HE  ACCOMPANIES  ALBRIGHT  TO  HIS  APPOINTMENTS. 

But  there  was,  it  seems,  "  another  spirit "  in  this 
young  man,  and  in  his  nineteenth  or  twentieth 
year  he  commenced  to  accompany  Albright  on  his 
field  of  labor,  and  soon  became  a  good  exhorter. 
In  the  year  1802  he  began  to  preach,  and  thus 
became  Albright's  first  co-laborer,  and  soon  also  a 
strong  support  and  an  able  preacher. 

"THE  FOOLISHNESS  OF  GOD  IS  WISER  THAN  MEN." 

Here,  now,  was  a  young  man  without  any  edu- 
cation, who,  at  this  time,  had  to  spell  the  hymns 
and  texts  which  he  desired  to  read  to  his  congre- 
gations, and  yet  ere  long  he  became  one  of  the 
most  effective  preachers  of  his  day,  not  only  in 
the  estimation  of  the  small  number  of  Christians 
that  clung  to  Albright,  probably  twenty  in  all,  but 
was  also  acknowledged  as  such  by  scholars  and  pro- 
fessors of  other  Churches,  who  heard  him  preach. 

"HE  PREACHED  WITH.  POWER,  AND  NOT  AS  THE  SCRIBES." 

According  to  numerous  testimonies,  it  is  quite 
evident  that  God  had  blessed  Walter  with  unusual 
gifts  to  preach,  which,  through  prayer,  searching  of 
the  Scriptures,  and  vigorous  exercise,  he  used  with 
blessed  results.  The  doctrines  of  repentance,  faith. 


JOHN  WALTER. 


135 


conversion,  holiness,  godliness,  judgment,  heaven, 
hell  and  all  cardinal  points  of  Bible  doctrine,  he 
taught  with  great  clearness  and  power.  His  ser- 
mons cut  like  a  two-edged  sword,  so  that  his  con- 
gregations were  often  overwhelmed,  and,  through 
the  power  of  God,  led  into  the  light  of  divine  truth, 
which,  in  the  use  of  numerous  Scripture  passages, 
flowed  from  his  lips.  The  sinner,  as  well  as  the 
Christian,  recognized  in  the  divine  mirror  his 
real  condition,  and  the  blessed  results  were  often 
astonishing.  Here  are  a  number  of  miscellaneous 
incidents  relative  to  what  has  been  said : 

WHAT  DR.  SCHMUCKER  SAYS  OF  HIM. 

This  Doctor  of  Theology  of  the  Lutheran  Church, 
who  also  knew  something  of  experimental  religion, 
heard  Walter  preach  several  times.  When  he 
heard  him  the  first  time,  he  said :  "  It  is  a  pity 
that  Walter  did  not  receive  a  good  classical  educa- 
tion, and  thereby  improve  his  talents;  he  would 
have  become  the  greatest  preacher  in  the  country." 
But  most  likely  Walter  would  not  have  been  such 
a  powerful  preacher,  if  he  had  first  passed  through 
one  of  the  theological  schools  of  that  time.  When 
Dr.  Schmucker  heard  him  the  second  time,  he 
remarked :  "  Walter  is  a  deeply  learned  man,  and 
an  orator,  who  has  hardly  been  excelled.  Oh,  he 
speaks  with  supernatural  power !  God,  in  his  prov- 
idence, has  done  a  great  deal  for  him."  Dr. 
Schmucker  perceived  that  our  John  Walter  pos- 


136 


LIFE  AND  LABOES  OF 


sessed  deep  learning,  which  he  had  drawn  out  of 
that  unfathomable  well  of  eternal  wisdom  —  the 
Holy  Scriptures. 

TESTIMONY  OF  AN  OLD  METHODIST  PREACHER. 

An  old  Methodist  preacher  heard  him  preach, 
and  was  very  much  affected  by  the  power  of  the 
Word.  He  afterwards  said  to  an  Evangelical 
brother:  "Recently  I  heard  your  man  Walter 
preach,  and  oh,  it  was  wonderful !  —  He  preached 
as  though  he  wanted  to  bring  heaven  and  earth 
together!" 

WHAT  H.  NIEBEL  REPORTS  OF  WALTER. 

Niebel,  one  of  the  oldest  Evangelical  preachers, 
says,  he  heard  Walter  preach  on  a  Sabbath-day, 
in  a  barn  in  Eastern  Pennsylvania,  on  the  subject 
of  the  final  judgment,  in  such  a  manner  that  it 
seemed  as  if  the  great  day  was  about  being  ushered 
in.  Niebel  involuntarily  looked  around,  whether 
he  could  not  see  the  Judge  coming.  The  people 
were  powerful^  wrought  upon,  and  many,  who 
came  there  unconcerned,  cried  out  in  great  dis- 
tress for  the  pardon  of  their  sins.  A  protracted 
meeting  was  held  in  a  barn  belonging  to  a  man  by 
the  name  of  Ripley,  in  Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  the 
beginning  of  which  was  not  very  promising.  But 
on  Sabbath  morning  Walter  preached  from  Rom. 
13.  11, 12,  in  such  a  way,  that  many  of  the  hearers 
hroke  down  under  the  sermon,  calling  upon  God 
for  mercy,  so  that,  without  further  preaching,  the 


JOHN  WALTEE.  137 

services  were  uninterruptedly  continued  until  late 
the  next  night.  Among  the  converts  were  quite 
a  number  who  afterwards  proved  themselves  to  be 
genuine  Christians  by  their  godly  lives. 

A  TESTIMONY  BY  BISHOP  SEYBERT. 

In  one  of  Bishop  Seybert's  remarkable  ordina- 
tion sermons,  he  related,  among  other  things,  the 

following::    '^At  a  certain  meetino-.  which  seemed 

<^  <_  - 

to  be  lifeless  and  without  any  effect.  Walter  arose, 
saymg:  ^This  congregation  is  not  in  the  right 
sjDirit.'  But  when  he  had  spoken  about  five  min- 
utes, a  powerful  influence  came  upon  those  pres- 
ent, and  in  a  short  time  penitent  souls  called  upon 
God  for  pardon,  and  a  general  blessing  was  poured 
out." 

A  WONDERFUL  OCCURRENCE. 

The  following  occurrence  has  been  so  abundantly 
corroborated  by  persons  who  were  present,  and  by 
such  as  heard  it  from  eye  and  ear  witnesses,  that 
we  cannot  forbear,  upon  the  strength  of  such  wit- 
nesses, to  insert  the  remarkable  facts  connected 
therewith  : 

Walter  frequently  preached  in  the  village  of 
iPTew  Berlin.  Union  County.  Pa.,  in  a  school-house, 
located  in  the  suburbs  of  the  place.  But  finally 
persecution  arose,  and  the  trustees  of  the  school- 
house  decided  to  close  it  against  Walter.  Upon 
his  arrival  to  fill  his  appointment  there,  he  found 
the  door  locked.    Many  people  had  gathered  at 


138 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


the  house,  and  as  it  was  a  still,  moonlight  night, 
Walter  took  his  stand  in  front  of  the  school- 
house,  and  began  to  preach.  Soon  the  power  of 
God  came  upon  him,  and  he  raised  his  voice  with 
such  force,  that  he  was  plainly  understood  in  the 
entire  village.  The  people  of  the  place,  who  were 
not  at  the  school-house,  stood  in  the  doors  of  their 
dwellings,  or  sat  at  the  open  windows  and  listened. 
Many  were  so  wrought  upon,  that  they  closed  the 
windows  and  withdrew.  As  Walter  was  in  the 
highest  strain  of  his  address,  the  door  of  the 
school-house  suddenly  flew  open  with  a  loud 
report,  upon  which  he  cried  out :  "  God  has  opened 
unto  us  a  door  in  New  Berlin,  and  he  will  establish 
his  work  here,  in  spite  of  all  the  opposition  of  hell 
and  wicked  men ! "  The  next  morning  the  bar- 
hook,  behind  which  the  iron  rod  had  been  pushed, 
was  found  lying  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  door, 
in  the  school-house.  Walter's  prophecy  was  ful- 
filled. Soon  after  a  revival  broke  out  in  that 
place;  a  good  class  was  organized;  the  first  Church 
of  the  Evangelical  Association  was  built  there  ; 
and  afterwards  the  first  Publishing  House,  as  also 
Union  Seminary,  were  erected,  and  God's  work 
has  a  sure  foothold  unto  this  day. 

ANOTHER  REMARKABLE  MEETING. 

At  Conewago  river,  in  York  County,  Pa.,  Wal- 
ter held  a  "big  meeting"  at  the  house  of  a  man  by 
the  name  of  Meier.    This  meeting  was  attended 


JOHN  WALTER. 


139 


by  the  mother  of  Adam  Ettinger,  one  of  the  oldest 
ministers  in  the  Evangelical  Association,  who  had 
previously  sought  the  Lord  by  fasting  and  prayer. 
(Bro.  Ettinger  fell  asleep  in  Jesus  in  the  year 
1878.)  She  came  prayerfully  to  the  meeting,  to 
prove  the  sermon  and  the  work.  Walter  preached 
in  the  fullness  of  the  blessing  of  the  Gospel,  and 
the  stir  among  the  people  became  great.  Mother 
Ettinger  arose  and  exultantly  cried  out  with  a 
loud  voice :  "  This  is  the  work  of  the  Lord,  and 
the  precious  truth  of  the  Gospel ! "  At  the  same 
time  she  observed  her  son  in  the  congregation,  and 
running  towards  him,  she  fell  upon  his  neck,  and 
said:  "Adam,  we  must  be  converted  to  God!" 
and  thus  brought  her  son  upon  his  knees,  where 
he  commenced  to  seek  the  Lord. 

WHAT  ADAM  ETTINGER  SAYS  OF  WALTER. 

"Walter  was  a  remarkable  man,  highly  gifted 
of  God,  and  whose  equal  could  hardly  be  found 
among  thousands.  Without  any  literary  educa- 
tion, in  a  few  years  he  became  one  of  the  most 
profound  and  most  ready  expositors  of  the  Scrip- 
tures, of  his  time.  As  it  was  said  of  Apollos,  so  it 
could  truthfully  be  said  of  Walter :  "  He  was  an 
eloquent  man,  and  mighty  in  the  Scriptures."  No 
opponent  could  stand  before  him.  A  reputed  Doc- 
tor of  Divinity,  who  was  at  that  time  President  of 
the  Lutheran  Synod,  heard  Walter  preach  in  the 
court  house,  m  York,  Pa.,  and  afterwards  said:. 


140 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


"This  Walter  is  a  learned  man!"  Not  only  in 
the  pulpit,  but  also  in  his  private  intercourse  he 
was  more  than  a  match  for  his  opponents.  Here 
is  an  example  :  Bro.  Walter  was  still  quite  young, 
when  one  Sabbath  afternoon,  going  from  New  Ber- 
lin, Pa.,  to  his  evening  appointment  in  Centre 
County,  he  met  a  Lutheran  minister  who  traveled 
in  the  same  direction,  and  lived  in  the  neighbor- 
hood where  Walter  had  his  appointment.  During 
the  journey  the  following  conversation  took  place : 

Minister:  "Whither  are  you  traveling,  and 
what  is  your  profession?" 

Walter :  "  I  am  a  preacher,  and  am  on  the  way 
io  my  appointment." 

Minister :  "A  preacher?  And  where  did  you 
study  for  the  ministry  ?  " 

Walter :  "  At  the  feet  of  Jesus,  in  the  school 
of  the  Lord." 

Minister:    "  And  what  is  your  name ?  " 

Walter:    "My  name  is  Walter." 

Minister:  "Walter,  Walter!  But  not  the 
Walter  who  so  fearfully  condemns  the  people  ?" 

Walter :  "  Oh  no,  I  condemn  no  one  who  does 
not  condemn  himself" 

Minister :  "  But  there  is  one  by  the  name  of 
Walter,  as  I  have  been  informed,  who  passes 
through  the  country  and  condemns  the  Lutherans, 
the  Keformed,  and,  in  fact,  all  who  do  not  belong 
to  his  sect." 


JOHN  WALTER. 


141 


Walter:  "Why,  he  must  be  a  rude,  ill-man- 
nered man  !  I  preach,  that  the  Lutherans,  the 
Reformed,  Catholics,  and  all  others,  if  they  are 
pious  Christians,  and  die  as  such,  will  be  saved." 

Minister:  And  where  do  you  preach,  if  I 
may  ask?" 

Walter:  ^'Up  in  Penn's  Valley,  in  the  house 
of  a  man  by  the  name  of  Weis." 

Minister:  Why,  he  is  my  neighbor!  There 
can  be  but  few  hearers  there." 

Walter:  "There  may  be  a  cause  for  that. 
There  are  neighborhoods  where  the  people  do  not 
like  to  hear  the  truth,  and  many  even  are  kept 
away  by  their  pastors.  But  }-ou  certainly  will 
attend 

Minister:  "Why  yes,  that  might  be  possible. 
And  would  there  be  liberty  for  me  to  say  a  word, 
too,  if  something  should  be  said  that  would  not  be 
in  accordance  with  God's  Word  ?  *' 

Walter:  **0h  yes,  perfect  liberty!  I  should 
be  very  much  pleased  to  be  corrected,  if  I  should 
teach  erroneous  doctrines.'' 

Meanwhile,  they  arrived  at  the  minister's  house, 
only  a  short  distance  from  the  place  of  the  appoint- 
ment. Walter  once  more  gave  the  minister  an 
urgent  invitation  to  attend,  and  then  they  parted. 
Early  in  the  evening  the  neighbors  saw  their  min- 
ister, who  had  often  warned  them  concerning  these 
meetings,  wending  his  way  to  the  house  of  preach^ 


142 


LIPE  AND  LABORS  OF 


ing.  Curiosity  now  induced  them  also  to  go,  and 
the  house  was  filled.  Young  Walter  took  the 
minister  by  the  arm,  and  drew  him  behind  the 
table,  and  preached  with  great  fervor  and  spiritual 
power.  When  he  was  through,  turning  to  the 
minister,  he  said:  "Now  there  is  liberty."  The 
minister,  however,  hesitated  and  shrugged  his 
shoulders,  apparently  very  much  confused.  But 
since  the  whole  congregation  waited  for  him,  he 
after  all  finally  arose  and  said :  "  Well,  neighbors, 
I  must  acknowledge,  this  young  man  has  pro- 
claimed unto  us  the  Word  of  God,  the  truth,  and 
nothing  but  the  truth." 

From  this  time  forth  the  meetings  were  well 
attended,  conversions  followed,  and  an  excellent 
class  was  organized. 

A  POWERFUL  SERMON. 

Near  Eound  Top,  Dauphin  County,  Pa.,  Walter 
preached  at  the  residence  of  a  Mr.  Stuewig.  On  a 
Sabbath  morning,  in  Autumn,  he  had  an  appoint- 
ment at  this  place,  but  the  concourse  of  people 
being  very  large,  the  meeting  was  held  in  front  of 
the  house.  Walter  took  his  stand  on  the  porch, 
to  preach  to  the  multitude.  The  crowd,  however, 
and  the  curiosity  were  so  great,  that  many  climbed 
the  trees  that  stood  near,  in  order  to  see  and  hear 
all  that  was  going  on.  There  were  a  number  of 
unruly  persons  present,  who,  at  the  beginning  of 
the  sermon,  were  very  trifling,  and  attempted  to 


JOHN  WALTER. 


143 


create  disturbance.  Walter  preached  with  great 
power,  and  fearlessly  reproved  the  sins  of  the  peo- 
ple. Suddenly  he  cried  out:  "A  man's  heart 
might  break  on  account  of  this  great  levity."  This 
was  said  with  such  force  that  nearly  every  one 
was  startled,  many  even  becoming  greatly  alarmed. 
Walter  paced  back  and  forth  on  the  porch,  and 
preached  with  mighty  power.  Those  up  in  the 
trees  hurriedl}'  descended,  mockery  ceased,  the 
people  crowding  back  to  the  rear  as  though  their 
lives  were  imperiled.  A  deep  impression  was 
made  upon  the  whole  audience. 

WALTER  LOST  IN  THE  WOODS. 

Walter  frequently  traveled  frofn  Buffalo  Valley 
to  Father  Wonder's,  a  distance  of  forty  miles,  rid- 
ing on  a  very  poor  horse.  As  the  roads  were  bad, 
it  often  was  late  in  the  night  until  he  arrived  at 
his  destination.  At  one  time  he  had  an  appoint- 
ment in  Wonder's  neighborhood,  at  the  house  of  a 
man  by  the  name  of  Thomas,  in  the  month  of 
November.  It  rained  during  the  day,  and  the 
road  was  very  slippery.  Night  overtook  Walter, 
and  it  became  so  dark  that  he  lost  his  way  in 
the  woods,  and  strayed  around  until  he  was  finally 
hedged  in  by  rocks  and  brushwood,  so  that  he 
could  proceed  no  farther.  Meanwhile  the  people 
had  gathered  and  waited  until  about  10  o'clock. 
Then  it  was  concluded  that  he  would  not  come, 
and  several  were  about  leaving,  when  they  heard 


144 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


some  one  call  far  off  in  the  woods.  "  That,"  said 
one,  "is  Walter's  voice."  A  number  started  in 
search  with  torches,  and  he  was  soon  brought  in 
safety  to  the  house.  Wet,  cold  and  hungry  as  he 
was,  he  commenced  to  preach,  and  spoke  about 
two  hours  with  great  power. 

A  THREE  HOUR'S  SERMON  IN  A  MEADOW. 

On  a  Sabbath  day,  after  haying  (the  year  can- 
not  be  ascertained),  Walter  preached  in  Bro. 
Thomas'  meadow,  in  which  a  "preacher's  stand 
had  been  erected  for  that  purpose.  A  large  con- 
course of  people  were  present.  Walter  selected  as 
his  text  Songs  of  Sol.  6.  10:  "  Who  is  she  that 
looketh  forth  as  the  morning,  fair  as  the  moon,, 
clear  as  the  sun,  and  terrible  as  an  army  with 
banners?"  He  preached  for  three  hours  with 
great  inspiration  and  overwhelming  power.  The 
following  is  the  main  part  of  this  wonderful 
sermon,  as  Father  Wonder,  of  Carey,  Ohio,  who 
heard  it,  has  given  it  to  us : 

Beloved  Hearers:  Come  and  consider  with  me 
these  glorious  words  of  the  wise  man,  Solomon. 
In  his  Songs  he  speaks  of  Christ,  the  heavenly 
Bridegroom,  and  of  true  Christians  as  his  Bride. 
In  our  text  he  represents  Christ  as  expressing  his 
love,  joy  and  admiration  for  his  bride.  Behold, 
what  love  this  language  indicates,  and  then  look 
to  Calvary,  where  it  was  exhibited  in  a  manner 
unheard  of  before     Here  Jesus  offered  up  his  life 


JOHN  WALTEE. 


14& 


for  the  purchase  of  his  bride,  and  our  text  gives  a 
beautiful  description  of  how  he  gradually  pre- 
pared her  for  himself.  Eacli  person  belonging  to 
this  bride  knows  something  of  this  by  experience. 

I.  Who  is  she  that  loo keth  forth  as  the  morn- 
ing ?  "  The  morning  pre-supposes  darkness.  The 
sinner  belongs  to  the  kingdom  of  darkness.  He 
lives  in  darkness,  performs  the  works  of  darkness 
—  is  darkened  in  his  understanding,  heart  and 
will.  Such  are  called  the  ^'children  of  night.'" 
Their  condition  answers  to  that  of  the  earth  when 
it  was  "without  form  and  void,"  and  when  '^dark- 
ness was  upon  the  face  of  the  deep."  But  Jesus, 
who  is  the  "Light  of  the  world,"  arises  as  the  Sun 
of  Righteousness  unto  such  souls,  and  his  first 
light  in  the  heart  is  as  the  breaking  forth  of  the 
morning  light.  But  to  such  souls  the  day  has  not 
yet  fully  come.  Yet,  at  this  dawning  they  see, 
partially,  their  sins,  and  the  misery  of  their  condi- 
tion. 

In  this  condition  the  sinner  appears,  in  the 
sight  of  heaven,  earth  and  hell,  as  the  promising 
morning  dawn  —  they  "go  forth"  and  draw  atten- 
tion to  themselves.  The  world,  which  loveth 
darkness  rather  than  light,  will  persecute  them. 
Now  when  they  begin  to  forsake  the  works  of 
darkness,  wicked  men  will  accuse  them  of  the  sins 
they  committed,  together;  Satan,  also,  will  seek 

to  hinder  them,  but  Jesus  and  holy  angels  reioice 
10 


I 


146                    LIFEANDLABOESOP  j 

1 

greatly  over  therrij  as  they  break  forth  from  their 

darkness  into  the  kingdom  of  light,  the  certainty  j 

of  their  pardon,  and  the  witness  of  their  adoption.  \ 

II.  ''Fair  as  the  moon,''  such  souls  now  shine  ; 
in  their  lives.  Not  in  their  own  light,  or  right- 
eousness, but  like  the  moon  reflecting  the  light  of  \ 
the  sun,  so  do  they  reflect  the  light  of  Christ.  ^ 
They  are  now  the  children  of  the  day  —  a  light  in  j 
the  Lord.  There  is  light  in  their  understanding  j 
and  in  their  hearts,  and  they  know  that  they  are  j 
on  the  way  of  life.  Still,  with  them  this  light  1 
diminishes  and  increases  as  it  does  with  the  moon.  s 
In  all  spiritual  understanding  they  are  only  chil-  j 
dren.  Sometimes,  in  hours  of  trial,  their  light  is  | 
as  dim  as  the  new  moon,  and  generally  they  live  j 
only  in  the  light  of  the  quarter-moon,  where  they  ] 
learn  to  know  many  besetments  and  remains  of  j 
sin,  in  their  feelings,  words  and  works.  The  sea-  ' 
sons,  when  they  represent  the  beautiful  full  moon,  ] 
are  usually  short.  They  have  remission  of  sins, 
and,  like  the  moon,  are  almost  constantly  floating  i 
in  the  light  of  the  sun.  The  changes  in  their  feel- 
ings, etc.,  are  not  permanent,  and  if  they  will  only 
€ontinue  to  walk  in  the  light  as  God  is  in  the  light  < 
they  will  soon  be,  | 

III.  "Clear  as  the  sun"  in  the  enjoyment  of  ; 
entire  sanctification,  since,  by  faith,  Christ  dwells  j 
in  their  hearts,  and  his  light  shines  forth  from  • 
their  entire  being,  in  holiness  and  true  righteous-  ] 


JOHN  WALTEE. 


147 


ness.  Such  Christians  are  then  fully  separated 
from  the  world  —  chosen  and  precious  in  the  sight 
of  God,  through  Jesus  Christ.  They  are  cleansed 
from  all  unrighteousness,  love  God  with  all  their 
heart,  and  their  neighbor  as  themselves.  Such 
persons  are  under  the  command  and  leadership  of 
the  Prince  of  our  Salvation. 

lY.  Terrible  as  an  army  loifli  hannersy 
There  is  a  severe  conflict  between  Christ  and 
Satan — between  righteousness  and  sin.  Christ 
must  reign  till  he  hath  put  all  his  enemies  under 
his  feet.  All  true  Christians  belong  to  his  army, 
and  are  led  by  this  great  Prince  of  glory.  This 
army  consists  of  various  divisions  with  their  ban- 
ners, but  as  they  are  all Saints  of  the  Most  High," 
they  are  united,  and  present  a  terrible  front  to  the 
legions  of  hell.    It  is  said  that 

"  Satan  trembles  when  he  sees 
The  iveakest  saint  upon  his  knees." 

In  the  name  of  Jesus  they  conquer.  Sinners 
will  be  rescued  from  the  jaws  of  Satan.  Through- 
out entire  communities,  families  and  hearts,  his 
works  are  laid  in  ruins,  for,  "  For  this  purpose  the 
Son  of  God  was  manifested,  that  he  might  destroy 
the  works  of  the  devil."  Thus  the  Christians  go 
forth,  with  Christ  as  their  Captain,  conquering 
their  enemies  upon  the  right  hand  and  the  left. 
Hear  it,  ye  people,  and  take  it  to  heart :   The  true 


148 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


Christian  people,  if  faithful  to  their  exalted  Leader, 
will  take  this  country,  and  finally  they  will  appear 
with  Christ  and  his  heavenly  host  when  he  shall 
come  in  power,  with  ten  thousands  of  angelic 
attendants,  and  with  flaming  fire,  to  take  ven- 
geance on  them  that  know  not  God,  and  are  not 
obedient  to  the  Gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
banishing  them  from  the  presence  of  God,  and 
from  the  glory  of  his  power,  to  writhe  in  eternal 
pain.  This  appearing  of  Christ  will  be  glorious, 
with  all  his  saints  who  believed  on  him,  and  obe- 
diently followed  him.  Then  all  the  ungodly,  and 
the  scorners,  shall  be  like  straw  for  the  devouring 
flames,  while  the  children  of  God  shall  appear  with 
him  in  glory.  Then,  while  ten  thousand  thunders 
will  be  rolling,  and  the  heavens  be  blazing  with 
forked  tongues  of  lightning;  while  the  plowshare 
of  ruin  shall  run  deep  through  world  on  world, 
and  a  universal  fire  shall  lick  up  the  waters  of  the 
great  oceans,  then  shall  the  wicked  cry,  "  Ye  rocks 
and  mountains  fall  on  us,  and  cover  us  from  the 
face  of  him  that  sitteth  on  the  throne,  and  from 
the  wrath  of  the  Lamb,  for  the  great  day  of  his 
wrath  is  come,  and  who  shall  be  able  to  stand?'* 
Then  shall  the  saints  shine  in  the  glory  of  the  Son 
of  God,  while  they  shall  help  to  judge  the  world. 

Sinner,  hear  it !  The  Son  of  God,  whom  you  are 
crucifying,  and  whose  blood  you  trampled  beneath 
your  unholy  feet^  and  the  praying  followers  of 


JOHN  WALTEE. 


149 


Jesus  will,  in  the  last  day,  meet  you  in  their  glory, 
but  ^'  terrible  as  an  army  with  banners,"  to  drive 
you  into  the  lake  that  burnetii  with  fire  and  brim- 
stone !  Before  this  terrible  army  you  will  retreat 
as  before  a  storm  of  thunderbolts  from  heaven,  to 
take  up  your  abode  where  there  is  wailing  and 
gnashing  of  teeth.  In  that  day  "every  eye  shall 
see  Him,  and  they  also,  which  pierced  Him,  and  all 
kindreds  of  the  earth  shall  loail  because  of  Him ^ 
Then  shall  all  the  children  of  God  rejoice  great- 
ly, and  the  saints  of  the  Most  High  shall  take 
possession  of  the   kingdom   forever   and  ever. 

Songs  and  everlasting  joy  shall  be  upon  their 
heads;  they  shall  obtain  joy  and  gladness,  and 
sorrow  and  sighing  shall  flee  away."  Hallelujah! 
Amen. 

A  FRAGMENT  OF  ANOTHER  SERMON. 

In  Walter's  time  there  was  a  certain  class  of  per- 
sons who,  although  they  were  converted,  yet  weye 
not  willing  to  identify  themselves  with  Christian 
denominations.  They  protested  against  the  record- 
ing of  names  in  Church  books,  and  against  a  writ- 
ten Discipline,  and  called  themselves  "  Indepen- 
dents," "  Impartial  people,"  etc.  This  did  not 
please  Walter  at  all.  He  delivered  a  sermon  upon 
this  subject,  taking  for  his  text  Rev.  20.  15:  "And 
whosoever  was  not  found  written  in  the  book  of 
life,  was  cast  into  the  lake  of  fire."  From  these 
words  he  showed: 


150 


LIFE  AND  LABOES  OF 


1.  That  God  keeps  a  record  of  his  spiritual 
family  in  a  book,  called  the  book  of  life,  and  that 
the  names  of  his  children,  if  they  remain  faithful, 
shall  not  be  blotted  out  of  the  same. 

2.  This  book  is  of  great  importance.  It  is  of 
greater  importance  that  our  names  should  be  found 
there,  than  it  was  for  the  door-posts  of  the  chil- 
dren of  Israel  in  Egypt  to  be  sprinkled  with  blood. 
In  their  case  the  death-angel  passed  by  and  spared 
the  first  born,  but  whoever  has  Ms  name  written 
in  the  book  of  life,  is  spared  from  the  terrible  pit, 
which  burneth  with  fire  and  brimstone. 

3.  Application. —  The  Omniscient  even  keeps  a 
book  in  which  the  names  of  those  who  belong  to 
him  are  recorded,  how  much  more  should  we  for- 
getful preachers  also  have  a  book,  and  have  the 
names  of  those  recorded  who  are  brought  to  God 
through  our  instrumentality,  and  have  committed 
tl^emselves  to  our  care,  and  whom  we  are  to  build 
up  in  their  most  holy  faith !  How  easily  we 
could  forget  and  neglect  one  or  the  other,  if  we 
did  not  have  their  names  on  record.  I  assert  that 
after  a  person  knows  that  his  name  is  written  in 
heaven,  he  should  also  have  it  recorded  upon 
earth,  in  a  book  among  the  children  of  God. 

A  SKETCH  OF  ANOTHER  SERMON. 

His  text  was  Matt.  7.  15,  19  :  Beware  of  false 
prophets,"  etc.  His  main  theme  was :  The  crite- 
rions  of  false  prophets.    By  their  fruit  ye  shall 


JOHN  WALTER. 


151 


know  them.  He  considered  the  minister  as  the 
trunk,  his  doctrines  the  branches,  his  followers  or 
his  membership,  who  defend  him  and  render  obe- 
dience to  his  teachings,  as  the  fruit.  When  these 
adherents  consist  of  impenitents,  swearers,  drunk- 
ards, etc.,  then  it  is  plain  that  the  tree  is  not  good, 
yea,  that  both  trunk  and  branches  are  corrupt. 
But  upon  the  other  hand  if  his  followers  are  saved 
men,  and  lead  righteous  lives,  it  is  strong  evidence 
that  the  preacher  is  a  good  man,  and  preaches 
pure  doctrine,  for  the  fruit  is  good.  George  Miller 
heard  this  sermon,  and  declared  himself  well 
pleased  with  it. 

WALTER  AT  A  CAMP-MEETING. 

A  camp-meeting  was  held  in  Union  County,  Pa. 
Walter,  however,  was  unable  to  be  present  at  its 
beginning.  With  few  exceptions  the  people  were 
disappointed,  and  felt  discouraged.  The  meeting 
was  so  devoid  of  spirituality,  that  some  of  the 
members  spoke  of  taking  down  their  tents  and 
returning  home.  On  the  third  day,  at  11  o'clock, 
Walter  entered  the  preachers'  stand.  His  presence 
seemed  to  change  the  atmosphere,  and  indications 
of  a  change  became  visible  upon  the  entire  camp- 
ground. Walter  was  very  much  fatigued  from  a 
long  journey,  and  fell  asleep,  sleeping  until  the 
sermon  was  finished,  when  he  was  called  upon  to 
exhort.  He  arose  and  rubbed  the  sleep  out  of  his 
eyes.    As  soon  as  he  commenced  to  speak,  the 


152 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


darkness  began  to  vanish  from  the  congregation, 
and  in  a  short  time  sinners  cried  for  mercy,  and 
Christians  praised  the  Lord. 

"THIS  SPIRIT  IS  TOO  STRONG  FOR  ME." 

At  a  camp-meeting  held  at  Turkey  Hill,  Lan- 
caster County,  Pa.,  a  partially  insane  man  named 
B — .  was  present.  This  man  was  dressed  in  red, 
carried  a  sword,  tomahawk,  spear  and  horn,  and 
delighted  in  creating  disturbances  in  public  meet- 
ings by  his  foolish  talk,  scolding  and  swearing. 
At  this  meeting  the  '^ungodly"  were  glad  for  his 
presence,  for  they  hoped  that  through  this  unfor- 
tunate man,  who  seemed  to  be  under  the  influence 
of  evil  spirits,  disorder  would  be  created.  Walter 
was  just  preaching  with  divine  power  when  B. 
arrived.  He  listened  a  little,  was  touched,  and 
turned  around,  saying :  "  This  Spirit  is  too  strong 
for  me,"  and  quietly  left  the  camp-ground. 

"WE  SHALL  YET  POSSESS  THE  LAND." 

When  Walter  preached  with  full  liberty  at 
€amp-meetings,  he  often  exclaimed,  "  We  shall  yet 
possess  the  land."  At  a  camp-meeting,  however, 
held  shortly  before  his  death  at  Jonestown,  Leb- 
anon County,  Pa.,  he  went  still  further.  After  he 
had  described  the  progress  and  the  spread  of 
revivals  in  our  land,  he  prophesied  that  our  work 
w^ould  in  the  future  even  extend  to  Europe. 
This  prophecy  has  been  gloriously  fulfilled,  for 
which  God  be  greatly  praised. 


JOHN  WALTEB. 


153 


JOHN  WALTER'S  TEXTS. 

In  the  German  Bible  which  he  used,  Walter 
marked  a  number  of  texts,  from  which  he  preached. 
It  might  be  both  interesting  and  profitable  for 
Evangelical  ministers  to  read  and  consider  them. 
The  spirit  and  drift  of  his  thoughts  are  thereby 
clearly  brought  to  light.  Two  points  are  promi- 
nently set  forth  by  these  texts,  namely,  that 
Walter  searched  the  Scriptures  thoroughly,  and 
chose  texts  that  were  profound  and  full  of  thought, 
and  that  he  did  not  rely  upon  sketch  books. 
Whoever  wishes  to  become  a  useful  and  successful 
minister,  let  him  go  and  do  likewise.  We  here- 
with give  a  list  of  the  texts,  which  are  worthy  of 
thorough  consideration : 

OLD  TESTAMENT. 

Gen.  3.  9  ;  24.  49.    Ex.  12.  3.    Numbers  14.  9  ;  14.  11, 12  ; 

23.  19.    Deut.  15.  9  ;  16.  18  ;  27.  17 ;  27.  26.    Josh.  23.  11  ; 

24.  14,  15.  Judges  9.  7.  1  Sam.  2.  9-11  ;  22.  2.  1  Kings 
6.  8.  2  Kings  10.  15.  2  Chron.  13.  12  ;  15.  4;  15.  7;  15.  12- 
15  ;  16.  9  ;  20.  20  ;  32.  78.  Ezra  3.  11-13  ;  10.  11.  Nehe- 
miah  1.  9 ;  2.  20  ;  5.  9.  Esther  8.  4.  Job  7.  10;  27.  11  ; 
28.  28.  Psa.  6.  12-15  ;  29.  10,  11 ;  37.  37  ;  37.  39  ;  85.  10-12  : 
89.  15-17;  89.  31-34;  92.  14-16;  93.  5;  95.  7-11;  119.  59, 
60;  119.63;  119.67;  119.72;  119.113;  119.130;  119. 
136;  119.155;  119.162;  119.165;  104.7,8;  128.1;  136.1. 
Prot.  22.  28  ;  23.  10,  12;  23.  23.  Eccles.  12.  13.  Songs  of 
Sol.  1.  4  ;  1.  6 ;  1.  12,  13  ;  2.  3-6  ;  2.  11,  12  ;  3.  1-4  ;  3.  6  ; 
4.  16  ;  5.  1  ;  6.  9  ;  8.  5-7.  Isa.  1.  15  ;  1.  18-20  ;  1.  26  ;  2.  2 ; 
3  9-11  ;  24.  5,  6  ;  31.  1  ;  32.  20 ;  33.  13-24  ;  35.  10  ;  37.  19  ; 
37.  30  ;  37.  36  ;  40.  30,  31  ;  41.  10  ;  54. 10  :  55.  3  ;  55.  8-11 ; 


154 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


57.  2  ;  59.  1,  2.    Jer.  2.  31  ;  3.  12,  15 ;  4.  3,  4  ;  5.  21,  22 ; 

6.  8  ;  6.  16  ;  7.  23,  24  ;  8.  4,  5  ;  8.  7  ;  8.  20  •  11.  20  ;  9.  9  ; 

11.  3  ;  12.  5  ;  12.  11 ;  13.  9  ;  13.  15-17  ;  37.  9  ;  48.  10  ;  51.  6. 
Hez.  3.  21  ;  13.  4,  5  ;  13.  18,  19  ;  14.  14.  Dan.  4.  34 ;  12.  3. 
Hosea  14.  10.    Amos  4.  12.    Malachi  4.  1,  2. 

NEW  TESTAMENT. 

Matth.  5.  20 ;  6.  33 ;  7.  13,  14  ;  10.  37,  38  ;  13.  4-9  ;  13.  11  ; 
13.51;  18.19;  19.25;  20.6;  20.30-34;  21.10;  21.41; 
25.  37-40  ;  25.  46  ;  26.  41.  Luke  11.  28  ;  11.  35  ;  11.  40  ; 
18.26;  19.10;  19.27.  John  1.  4 ;  1.12;  3.2,3;  3.16^ 
3.36;  4.13,14;  5.42;  6.28;  10.9;  12.26;  12.  35,36- 

12.  43;  12.  35.  Acts  13.  10;  14.  22,  23  ;  16.  5  ;  16.  14,  15  ^ 
17.  19  ;  17.  30,  31  ;  18.  22  ;  26.  18  ;  26.  28.  Rom.  2.  4-6  ; 
8.  38,  39  ;  13.  11;  15.  17-19  ;  15.  29.  1  Cor.  6.  9 ;  6.  17  ^ 
10.  12;  14.  20;  15.  10;  16.  13.  2  Cor.  15,  17;  5.  13,  14; 
5.  17  ;  5.  20  ;  6.  3-10  ;  6.  17,  18  ;  9.  25  ;  10.  4-6  ;  10.  12-14  ; 
12.  2;  12.  20  ;  13.  5  ;  13.  7,  8  ;  13.  11.  Gal.  2.  17  ;  5.  1  ; 
5.22,23;  6.7-9;  6.15,16.  Eph.  2.  5 ;  2.  8;  3.  13-19; 
4.24;  4.30;  5.27;  6.24.  Phil.  2. 12, 13  ;  4.4.  Col.  1.  21,  23  ; 

2.  9,  10  ;  3.  12-14.     1  Thess.  1.  5,  6  ;  2.  3-6  ;   2.  8  ;  4.  1, 

1  Tim.  2.  4-6  ;  3.  10  ;  5.  17  ;  6.  11,  12.    2  Tim.  2.  15  ;  2.  19  ; 

3.  12.    Titus  2.  14.    1  Pet.  3.  12  ;  4.  8  ;  4.  18 ;  5.  2-5  ;  5.  8. 

2  Pet.  1.  19  ;  2.  9  ;  2.  15  ;  3.  9  ;  3.  18.  1  John  4.  19  ;  5.  19. 
Heb.  3.  7-13;  4.  9  ;  5.  16;  6.  10-12  ;  10.  38;  11.  6  ;  11.  24- 
27;  12.15.  James  1.12;  1.21,22;  2.18;  3.17;  4.  7. 
Rev.  1.  5,  6;  2.  16,  17;   2.  10;  3.  20;   5.  9,  10;  7.  9,  10: 

7.  13-15;  19.  17,  18;  21.  7,  8,  22.  1,  2. 

FURTHER  EXAMPLES  OF  WALTER'S  LABORS. 

From  reliable  sources  it  is  known  that  Walter 
labored  untiringly  for  the  cause  of  his  Master,  in 
persuading  sinners  to  come  to  Christ.  His 
addresses  were  accompanied  with  such  super- 
natural power,  that  they  could  not  fail  to  make 


JOHN  WALTEE. 


155 


an  impression.  The  power  of  God  rolled  over  the 
congregations  like  the  waves  of  the  sea,  and  sin- 
ners and  Christians  were  overwhehned  thereb3\ 
A  hardened  old  sinner,  who  heard  of  the  remark- 
able sermons  of  Walter,  and  the  manifestations  of 
divine  power,  took  a  terrible  oath,  that  Walter 
should  not  make  any  impressions  upon  him. 
With  a  few  of  his  associates  he  went  to  the  meet- 
ing. Walter  commenced  in  his  usual  plain  and 
unassuming  manner,  but  being  hoarse,  with  a  some- 
what indistinct  voice.  The  scoffer  turned  to  his 
comrades  and  made  sneering  remarks  about  this 
"powerful"  preacher.  Walter  continued  his  dis- 
course, his  voice  becoming  clearer  as  the  Spirit 
led  him  farther,  until  it  sounded  like  a  trumpet. 
The  congregation  was  mightily  wrought  upon,  a 
brother  of  unquestioned  piety  was  so  overwhelmed 
with  divine  power  that  he  praised  God  with  a  loud 
voice,  and  others  wept  aloud.  One  of  the  .  com- 
rades of  this  insolent  sinner  now  looked  around  at 
him,  to  see  whether  he  was  able  still  to  withstand, 
and  was  much  surprised  to  see  that  he  had  turned 
pale  and  trembled  like  a  leaf  Soon  he  cried  out : 
"'My  God,  what  does  this  mean!"  Walter  con- 
tinued to  pour  out  the  truth  upon  the  people,  and 
the  Holy  Spirit  accompanied  it  in  a  powerful  man- 
ner. Suddenly  this  stiff-necked  sinner  and  two  of 
his  comrades  fell  to  the  ground,  calling  upon  God 
for  mercy,  and  ceased  not  until  they  found  Christ. 


156 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


WHAT  JOHN  BREIDENSTEIN  SAYS  OF  WALTER. 

"  His  labors  among  his  brethren  were  calculated 
to  lead  them  into  a  higher  state  of  grace.  He 
■exhorted  them  to  grow  in  grace  and  in  the  knowl- 
edge of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  insisted 
that  Christians  should  follow  after  holiness, 
without  which  no  one  shall  see  the  Lord.  He 
claimed  that  there  were  immeasurable  heights, 
and  unfathomable  depths,  attainable  by  believers. 
All  his  efforts  were  put  forth  to  lead  sinners  to 
Christ,  and  to  persuade  Christians  to  walk  in  the 
Spirit,  and  to  attain  unto  the  highest  degree  of 
grace  attainable  in  this  life.  On  certain  occasions 
he  made  special  efforts  to  urge  Christians  to  seek 
holiness  through  the  prayer  of  faith,  and  thus  to 
consecrate  themselves  unreservedly  to  the  Lord. 
According  to  his  opinion,  holiness  consisted  in 
being  delivered  from  all  evil  affections  and  desires, 
and  in  being  conformed  to  the  will  of  God,  so  that 
God  is  glorified  in  our  bodies  and  spirits. 

"  The  vacancy  caused  by  the  departure  of  Walter 
-could  hardly  be  filled  by  another  minister  of  the 
Evangelical  Association." — This  is  a  strong  testi- 
mony, but  can  nevertheless  be  received  with  assur- 
ance. 

WALTER'S  POETICAL  TALENTS. 

The  most  surprising  characteristic  of  this 
remarkable  but  literally  unlearned  man,  perhaps, 
is  the  fact  that  he  was  a  poet,  and  furnished  a 


JOHN  WALTEE. 


157 


number  of  hymns  that  have  taken  high  rank  in 
the  Evangelical  Association.  And  what,  perhaps^ 
may  be  still  more  remarkable  is,  that  he  translated 
a  number  of  English  hymns,  which  must  be- 
acknowledged  as  a  success,  notwithstanding  the- 
flict  that  his  knowledge  of  the  English  language 
was  so  limited,  that  he  was  compelled  first  to  ask 
the  meaning  and  definitions  of  English  words.. 
Among  his  hymns  which  are  still  in  use,  we  men- 
tion as  examples  and  as  original :  "  Wer  will  mit" 
uns  nach  Zion  geht  ?"  ''Kommt,  Brueder,  kommt, 
lüir  eilen  fort,''  and  as  translations:  ^^Mein  Gott, 
du  Brunnen  aller  Freude  ^'Koinm,  sehnend  Suen^ 
der,  steh'  nun  stillt 

In  the  year  1810  he  issued  the  first  hymn-book 
of  the  Evangelical  Association,  with  the  following 
title  :  A  small  collection  of  old  and  ncAv  spirit- 
ual hymns,  for  the  use  and  edification  of  all  who 
love  the  Lord.  Collected  and  furnished  for  the 
press  by  John  Walter,  Minister."  This  little  book 
contained  fifty-six  hj^mns,  and  did  excellent  ser- 
vice in  its  time.  • 

WALTER'S  FAMILY. 

The  following  was  found  among  the  few  papers 
which  Walter  left :  "  I,  John  Walter,  entered  into 
the  state  of  holy  matrimony  with  Christiana 
Becker,  at  Muehlbach,  Heidelberg  Township, 
Dauphin  County  (now  Lebanon),  the  8th  of 
August,  1808."    (In  his  27th  year.) 


158 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


"My  daughter  Catherine  was  born  May  5th, 
1810." 

"My  son  John  was  born  December  9th,  1812.'* 
"My  son  Peter  was  born  May  9th,  1816,  and 
died  in  the  same  year  on  September  7th." 

A  FEW  LETTERS  TO  HIS  WIFE. 

These  letters  breathe  such  a  pious  spirit  and 
Christian  matrimonial  love,  in  accordance  with 
Eph.  5.  23-33,  that  they  are  worthy  of  insertion 
at  this  place : 

"Written  June  15,  1809. 

"  My  dear  wife,  hearty  greetings : — May  the 
Lord  be  your  portion,  Christ  your  support,  and  the 
Holy  Ghost  your  Comforter  and  Guide!  I  would 
inform  you  that  I  reached  my  circuit  in  good 
health,  and  have  met  my  brethren  and  sisters, 
with  God's  help  and  grace,  in  safety  and  in  the 
enjoyment  of  his  blessing.  We  had  a  blessed  time 
at  our  extra  meeting.  Thanks  be  to  God !  My 
prayer  and  the  remembrance  of  my  heart  were 
often  for  you,  my  dear  wife,  that  God  might  also 
bestow  upon  you  the  measure  of  his  grace,  and 
that  he  might  comfort  you  in  all  your  trials,  and 
deliver  you  from  all  temptations  and  unnecessary 
cares,  that  may  press  your  heart  and  lead  from 
God.  Only  keep  yourself  near  to  God  in  watchful- 
ness and  prayer,  then  you  will  find  at  all  times  a 
strong  consolation  and  great  peace  in  God  through 
Jesus  Christ  for  your  soul.    What  we  deny  our- 


JOHN  WALTER. 


159 


selves  of  in  this  world  for  God  and  the  Gospel,  and 
what  we  suffer  for  Jesus'  sake^  God  will  abundant- 
ly recompense  with  eternal  consolation  in  his 
kingdom. 

"My  dear  wife,  pray  earnestly  for  me  and  the 
cause  of  God.  May  God  be  your  husband  and 
comforter!  I  have  entrusted  you  to  him  in  my 
absence,  and  I  believe  that  he  will  provide  for  and 
protect  you  and  me.  May  he  keep  us  unto  eter- 
nal life  !  I  do  not  expect  to  get  home  until  I  come 
to  the  protracted  meeting.  But  if  I  live  and  am 
well,  I  will  surely  come  home  July  26th  or  27th. 
Again  a  thousand  greetings !  Only  pray  earnestly 
to  God  that  we  may  be  happy  in  time  and  in 
eternity!  My  soul  pours  itself  out  daily  for  you 
in  prayer.  At  the  throne  of  grace  you  can  daily 
meet  me,  at  least  in  the  morning,  at  noon,  and  in 
the  evening,  even  though  we  must  be  separated  in 
body.    So  much  from  your  loving  husband, 

John  Walter." 

* 

"Written  January  18,  1813,  by  your  loving 
husband,  John  Walter,  to  you,  Christiana,  my 
beloved  wife :  I  most  heartily  greet  you,  and  wish 
you  many  blessings  and  much  grace  from  God,  for 
body  and  soul.  I  am  still  well  and  alive.  God 
be  praised  for  it!  I  hope  these  lines  will  find  you 
and  the  children  well  also.    Keep  yourself  only  to 


160 


LIFE  AND  LABOES  OF 


God  in  watchfulness  and  prayer,  then  he  will  also 
stand  by  you  and  sweeten  all  your  sorrow.  I 
hope  to  receive  a  letter  from  you  soon.  I  greet 
you  once  more  most  heartily,  and  commend  you 
and  myself  to  God.  Written  in  haste  by  your 
husband, 

John  Walter." 

The  following  letter  has  no  date : 

"  A  hearty  greeting  to  you,  my  dear  wife !  May 
God  greet  you,  Jesus  cheer  you,  and  the  Holy 
Spirit  comfort  you  in  all  sorrow,  and  guide  you 
into  all  truth.  I  will  let  you  know  that  I  am  still 
in  good  health.  As  long  as  God  will  permit  I  feel 
encouraged  to  continue  my  labors  in  his  cause.  We 
had  glorious  seasons  at  our  extra  meetings,  the 
work  of  God  seems  to  prosper,  and  his  children  are 
abundantly  blessed.  We  will  be  very  watchful 
and  prayerful.  May  God  unite  us  in  contending 
for  the  faith  of  the  Gospel  unto  death.  Let  us 
make  this  our  chief  concern,  that  we  may  be  able 
to  stand  in  the  great  day  of  eternity,  for  this  world 
passes  away  with  all  that  is  therein.  If  we  have 
raiment  and  food  we  are  rich  enough,  if  we  are 
therewith  contented.  God  will  not  forsake  us,  we 
will  trust  in  him,  my  dear  wife. — Further  I  will 
let  you  know  that  I  will  come  home  November  22, 


JOHN  WALTEE. 


161 


if  the  Lord  will.  You  need  not  be  concerned 
about  gathering  the  corn,  I  will  attend  to  that 
when  1  come  home. 

From  Yours, 

John  Walter." 

If  the  loving  spirit  that  is  perceptible  in  these 
letters  is  as  beneficial  to  the  reader  as  it  is  to 
the  writer,  then  it  will  be  like  unto  pearls  from 
the  early  days  of  the  Evangelical  Association. 

A  LETTER  FROM  JOHN  ERB  TO  JOHN  WALTER. 

The  following  letter  in  part  shows  how  the  old 
Evangelical  preachers  labored  in  Walter's  time. 
Though  the  letter  is  not  written  by  Walter,  but 
was  written  by  Bro.  Erb  to  W.,  yet  it  is  too  valu- 
able to  be  lost.    May  it  be  taken  to  heart : 

Jan.  14th,  1812. 

To  John  Walter. 

My  dear  brother  in  Christ: — May  God 

be  your  portion  and  Christ  your  support !    1  will 

let  you  know  that  I  am  still  well,  for  which  God 

be  praised,  and  I  hope  these  lines  will  find  you  all 

enjoying  the  same  blessing.    I  herewith  inform 

you  that  I  am  still  as  determined  to  continue  in 

God's  work  with  soul  and  body,  as  I  have  ever 

been.  And  I  cannot  forbear  to  write  you  about  the 

work  of  God  on  our  circuit.    The  Lord  has  done 
11 


162 


LIFE  AND  LABOES  OF 


great  things  for  our  circuit,  and  to  him  be  eternal 
praise !  Many  souls  have  been  converted  during 
this  year.  The  fire  is  burning  on  the  circuit, 
and  we  hear  the  praises  of  Immanuel  in  the  tents 
of  the  righteous.  Our  friends  are  in  earnest,  and 
continue  steadfastly  in  the  work  as  those  who  are 
huilt  upon  the  foundation  of  the  apostles  and 
prophets.  Further,  I  cannot  refrain  writing  what 
God  has  wrought  at  our  watch-night  meetings. — 
Eternal  praise  be  to  God  for  his  grace!  During 
these  meetings  fifteen  souls  were  saved.  We  have 
received  seventy  persons  into  Church  fellowship, 
the  most  of  whom  are  pardoned,  and  yet  many 
others  are  penitent.  The  deacon  in  Derrstown 
was  converted,  and  the  whole  village  is  in  com- 
motion; God  be  praised,  for  he  works  mightily  at 
all  places!  0  brother,  what  will  God  not  do 
for  us!  Only  have  strong  faith  in  proclaiming 
the  Gospel,  and  pray  for  us.  The  devil  is  very 
angry  with  us  and  roars  terribly,  and  his  emissa- 
ries oppose  us  as  much  as  possible.  They  attempt 
to  close  up  the  gap  with  hypocritical  work,  but  the 
Lord  sends  heavy  showers,  and  causes  the  gaps  to 
become  wider  than  before. 

*'The  persecutors  are  very  furious,  they  have 
cut  my  cloak  and  saddle  into  pieces,  and  try  to 
place  many  obstacles  in  the  way  to  check  the  work 
of  God.  But  thanks  be  unto  God !  He  qualifies 
me  only  the  more  with  power  and  faith  to  carry 


JOHN  WALTEE. 


163 


on  his  iTork  !  Long  ago  they  have  waited  for  my 
end,  but  it  seems  as  though  the  Lord  would  again 
grant  unto  me  good  health.  Further,  I  think 
there  will  be  five  brethren  that  will  start  out  by 
next  Spring  to  preach  the  Gospel.  God  be  praised, 
that  he  sends  us  laborers!  Further,  I  salute  Bro. 
Miller  and  his  family,  and  Bro.  Betz,  Bro.  Jerlitz 
and  all  the  brethren  and  sisters.  The  conference 
will  be  held  on  April  20,  at  Dreisbach's.  The 
^^big  meeting  "  on  the  4th  of  April,  is  at  Meessen's, 
and  on  the  11th  at  Spangler's.  I  send  this  letter 
with  Michael  Deibler,  whom  I  commend  to  you  in 
the  Lord,  to  instruct  him  in  the  work  of  God.  We 
desired  very  much  to  see  Bro.  Weber.  Our  circuit 
is  too  large  for  two  to  travel,  so  we  wish  he  would 
soon  come  and  help  us. 

Jan.  27,  1812. 

"On  the  25th  the  Lord  wrought  mightily  in  our 
midst.  Ten  souls  were  converted,  and  many 
others  are  seeking.  God  be  praised  for  the  mira- 
cles of  his  grace !  0  brotiier,  what  will  the  Lord 
not  do  for  us !  Only  continue  earnestly  in  prayer, 
and  have  faith  in  God,  and  he  will  do  great  things 
for' us!  Pray  for  us!  Brother  Zimmerman  and 
the  brothers  and  sisters  salute  3'ou. 

"  From  your  brother  and  co-laborer  in  the 
Gospel, 

John  Erb. 
In  Northumberland  County.'* 


164 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


THE  LAST  YEAR'S  LABOR. 

In  the  history  of  the  Evangelical  Association, 
page  110-111,  it  is  reported:  "His  last  circuit 
was  the  Schuylkill,  or,  as  it  was  previously  called, 
the  Schuylkill  and  Lancaster  circuit,  which  was 
assigned  to  him  and  two  other  brethren  as  their 
field  of  labor  by  the  Conference  of  April,  1813. 
During  this  year  he  commenced  to  spit  blood,  but 
did  not  cease  from  his  work  until  he  commenced 
to  bleed  violently,  and  became  very  sick." 

Walter,  as  well  as  Albright  and  others  of  their 
co-laborers,  not  only  labored  very  hard  in  preach- 
ing to  crowded  congregations,  in  small  rooms  of 
private  houses,  but  as  their  fields  of  labor  were 
very  extensive,  their  appointments  came  so  sel- 
dom, that  the  people  became  very  desirous  to  hear 
the  Word  of  Life,  so  they  often  preached  long  and 
loud.  Moreover,  traveling  in  those  days  was  no 
easy  task,  and  being  probably  not  sufficiently  pro- 
tected, they  frequently  got  wet  and  contracted 
heavy  colds.  Their  meals  were  often  at  irregular 
hours,  and  their  sleeping  accommodations  certainly 
not  first  class,  as  a  rule,  and  of  recreation  they 
knew  nothing.  Withal  they  fasted  much  and 
practiced  strict  self-denial,  the  result  of  which  was 
that,  notwithstanding  their  robust  constitutions, 
they  broke  down  very  early,  which  was  also  the 
case  with  Walter.  In  our  day  we  are  not  so  much 
in  danger  from  any  of  these  extremes. 


JOHN  WAITEE. 


165 


HIS  CLOSING  YEAR  UPON  EARTH. 

Thus  the  close  of  life  of  this  dear  man  of  God 
gradually  approached.  From  1813  he  was  sickly, 
and  never  after  this  was  able  to  travel.  Yet  he 
occasionally  attended  '^big  meetings"  and  camp- 
meetings,  and  preached  with  power.  At  times  he 
was  sick  enough  to  be  in  bed,  and  at  other  times 
he  could  move  around.  At  the  time  when  he  took 
sick  he  lived  at  a  place  called  Schwamm,  in  West 
Calico  Township,  Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  where 
he  owned  a  house  and  a  few  acres  of  land.  But 
afterwards  he  sold  this  property  and  purchased  a 
house  and  several  acres  of  land  in  Hanover  Town- 
ship, Lebanon  County,  Pa.,  near  his  friends.  He 
was  poor,  and  at  this  time  unable  to  support  him- 
self, in  consequence  of  which  the  friends  and  neigh- 
bors at  times  supplied  him  with  the  necessaries  of 
life. 

This  servant  of  God  had  not  sought  honor  of 
men,  much  less  did  he  abuse  his  high  calling,  the 
ministry  of  reconciliation,  for  the  jDurpose  of  gain- 
ing filthy  lucre.  With  Moses,  he  looked  to  the 
recompense  of  the  reward,  which  the  chief  Shep- 
herd shall  give  to  his  servants  when  he  comes  the 
second  time, —  a  crown  of  glory  that  never  fades 
away.  And  much  less  was  he  a  seeker  of  ease  or 
pleasure.  One  could  hardly  think  of  a  life  con- 
nected with  more  privations  than  was  Walter's 
itinerancy.    The  love  of  Christ  constrained  him, 


166 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


as  it  had  Paul,  to  consecrate  his  all,  in  order  that 
he  might  win  precious  souls  for  Christ. 

HIS  LAST  WEEKS. 

About  three  weeks  before  his  death  Walter  was 
confined  to  his  bed.  He  was  visited  much  by  friends 
and  the  children  of  God,  with  whom  he  enjoyed 
many  happy  hours  upon  his  couch.  He  imparted 
much  good  spiritual  advice  whilst  suffering  upon 
his  death  bed.  Among  others,  John  Breidenstein 
and  David  Thomas  visited  him  also,  to  whom  he 
said  that  young  ministers  should  not  select  difficult 
texts  at  first,  but  should  choose  such  as,  for 
instance.  Rev.  3.  20,  "Behold  I  stand  at  the  door 
and  knock,"  etc.  He  expressed  a  peculiar  opinion 
about  the  word  "  Abendmahl  "  ^  (sup)  in  the 
text,  viz.:  Since  these  words  are  found  in  the  writ- 
ings to  the  lukewarm  society  of  Laodicea,  and 
served  as  a  last  warning  to  them,  it  being,  as  it 
were,  evening  wdth  them.  Thus  we  may  consider 
it  is  in  general  with  those  who  are  not  saved  until 
shortly  before  death.  But  whosoever  permits  the 
Saviour  to  come  in,  in  early  life,  or  at  noon,  with 
such  he  will  keep  the  "Morgen"  and  also  the 
"  Mittagsmahl."  (Sup  with  him  in  the  morning 
and  at  noon.)  John  Dreisbach  also  visited  Walter 
shortly  before  his  death,  and  found  him  happy,  in 


*)    The  force  lies  in  the  German  Scripture  passage. 


R.  Y. 


JOHN  WALTEE. 


167 


full  hope  of  eternal  life.  The  class  at  Linglestown^ 
Dauphin  County,  Pa.,  paid  him  a  visit  also,  and 
besought  him  for  a  few  parting  words.  Weak  as 
he  was,  he  sat  up  in  bed  and  commenced  a  farewell 
address.  But  soon  the  power  of  God  came  upon 
him  in  such  a  measure,  that  he  spoke  with  a  loud 
voice.  But  now  he  hastened  rapidly  towards  his 
end.  During  his  final  farewell  he  said :  know 
that  my  Redeemer  liveth!" — and  exhorted  his 
wife  and  his  relatives  that  they  should  not  weep 
for  him,  since  he  would  now  pass  from  all  suffer- 
ings into  eternal  joy. 

Thus  this  righteous  man  died  in  the  Lord,  on 
December  3d,  1818,  and  his  works  do  follow  him, 
and  he  is  permitted  to  eat  the  fruit  of  them  with 
Abraham,  Isaac  and  Jacob,  and  his  co-laborers, 
who  together  praise  God  in  the  kingdom  of  glory. 
His  age  was  37  years,  3  months  and  6  days.  Bro. 
David  Thomas  preached  the  funeral  sermon  to  a 
large  concourse  of  people,  from  Heb.  13.  17: 
"  Obey  them  that  have  the  rule  over  you,  and  sub- 
mit yourselves :  for  they  watch  for  your  souls,  as 
they  that  must  give  account,  that  they  may  do  it 
with  joy,  and  not  with  grief:  for  this  is  unprofit- 
able for  you." 

Walter  served  the  Church  of  his  choice  nearly 
twelve  years  as  an  itinerant  preacher,  and  was  the 
instrument  of  leading  many  to  repentance,  and  in 
building  up  believers  in  holiness.    He  was  gener- 


168     LIFE  AND  LABOES  OP  JOHN  WALTEE. 


ally  beloved  and  highly  respected  by  intelligent 
Christians,  as  well  as  by  respectable  non-professors. 
The  aged  fathers  and  mothers  in  Israel,  yet  spared 
among  us,  who  knew  him  and  heard  him,  even 
after  the  lapse  of  so  many  years,  speak  of  him 
with  joyful  and  thankful  remembrance.  ^^The 
memory  of  the  just  is  blessed." 


LIFE,  EXPERIENCE, 

MINISTERIAL  LABORS 

OF 

GEOEGE  MILLEE, 

EVANGELICAL  PKEAGHER. 


••A  GOOD  MINISTER  OF  JESUS  CHRIST."— i  Tim.  4.  6. 


PREFACE. 


Q.EORGE  MILLER  wrote  a  short  history  of  his  own  life 
and  experience,  which  was  examined  and  approved  by  a 
Conference  Committee,  therefore  I  regarded  it  neither  desirable 
nor  just  to  make  many  changes.  But  since  the  stj'le  of  com- 
position is  antiquated,  a  few  changes,  here  and  there,  were 
considered  necessar}-;  pains  were  taken,  however,  not  to 
destroy  its  characteristic  simplicity  and  vigor.  Occasionally, 
where  I  thought  it  needful  and  useful,  foot-notes  have  been 
added.    May  the  whole  prove  a  great  blessing  to  the  reader  ! 

R.  Y. 


171 


CONTENTS. 


Preeace  171 

First  Part. — Miller's  birth  and  education. — Condi- 
tion before  his  conversion. — Conversation  with 
awakened  persons. — Acquaintance  with  Jacob 
Albright. — Awakening  and  conversion.    -   -  173-193 

Second  Part. — He  is  appointed  a  class-leader. — His 
first  experiences  as  an  itinerant. — Many  con- 
versions in  Buffalo,  Penn's  and  Moser's  Valleys, 
etc.   194-235 

Third  Part. — The  first  Annual  Conference  is  held. — 
Albright  appointed  to  compile  a  Discipline,  but 
which  remained  unfinished  on  account  of  his 
early  death, — Miller  undertakes  the  compilation 
of  the  Discipline,  his  severe  trials,  sufferings 
and  his  steadfast  confidence  in  God.    -    -  236-265 

Appendix. — His  last  sickness.  -  .  -  -  266 
Literary  labors  of  George  Miller.  -  -  267 
Personal  characteristics.       -      -      -      -  272 


172 


LIFE  AND  LABORS 

OF 

GEORGE  MILLER. 


PART  FIRST. 


Miller's  Birth.  —  Education  up  to  his  Nineteenth  Year.  —  Con-< 
ditioji  Before  his  Co?iversion. —  Conversation  with  Awakened 
Persons.  —  Acquaintance  iciih  Jacob  Albright. —  Awakening 
and  Conversion. 

J  George  Miller,  was  born  February  16th,  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord,  1774,  in  Pottstown,  Montgomery 
County,  State  of  Pennsj^lvania.  My  parents  were 
Jacob  and  Elizabeth  Miller.  Soon  after  my  birth 
they  moved  to  Alsace  Township,  Berks  County, 
where  my  father  died  when  I  was  eleven  years 
old.  Up  to  my  nineteenth  year  we  were  under 
the  care  of  our  mother  ;  then  I  began  to  learn  a 
trade.  I  received  a  limited  education  in  the  Ger- 
man language,  and  was  instructed  in  the  principles 
of  the  Christian  religion,  in  accordance  with  the 
custom  of  the  Lutheran  Church.    My  parents  kept 

me  under  good  discipline,  and  would  not  allow  me 

173 


174 


LIFE  AND  LABOES  OP 


under  any  pretence  to  indulge  in  vice,  but  pointed 
out  to  me  the  terrible  consequences  of  profanity; 
so  that  an  aversion  to  such  abominations  was  early 
implanted  within  me,  and  I  was  kept  from  com- 
mitting such  sins,  and  felt  grieved  when  they  were 
committed  by  others.  But,  nevertheless,  my  heart 
was  wicked,  and  I  often  felt  a  desire  for  license  to 
gratify  its  evil  desires.  I  had  no  inclination  to 
indulge  in  vice,  but  sought  for  gratification  in  what 
I  considered  things  of  little  account.  But,  alas!  I 
was  very  much  deceived  by  my  own  heart,  for  soon 
after  the  death  of  my  father,  my  self-will  asserted 
itself  in  disobedience  toward  my  mother,  so  that  all 
her  corrections  seemed  to  leave  no  impression  upon 
my  mind.  I  yielded  to  much  that  was  sinful,  sinning 
against  my  own  conscience,  which  frequently 
accused  and  reproved  me. 

I  would  have  entirely  forgotten  the  good  train- 
ing of  my  father,  if  the  Lord  had  not  reminded  me 
of  it  through  a  severe  illness,  during  my  twelfth 
and  thirteenth  years.  Violent  pain  in  my  limbs, 
accompanied  with  swelling  of  the  knees,  frequently 
disabling  me  entirely,  produced  fears  that  I  might 
become  a  cripple,  which  had  the  effect  of  humbling 
me  more  than  all  preceding  exhortations.  I  was 
now  compelled  to  remain  at  home  on  the  Sabbath, 
and  to  obey  my  mother.  During  this  time  I  often 
read  the  Scriptures  aloud  to  her,  which  seemed  to 
give  her  much  pleasure. 


öEOSaE  MILLEE. 


175 


About  this  time  I  had  succeeded  in  saving  two 
dollars,  for  which  my  mother  intended  to  purchase 
a  sheep,  and  to  allow  me  to  have  the  profits  it 
might  yield  in  the  shape  of  wool,  etc.  At 
first  I  entertained  the  proposition  favorably,  but 
afterwards  I  changed  my  mind,  and  expressed  the 
desire  that  she  should  buy  a  Bible  for  me.  This 
pleased  mother  very  much,  and  she  purchased  a 
beautifully  bound  Bible  with  the  money.  I  found 
much  pleasure  in  reading  the  good  book,  so  that 
at  the  end  of  eighteen  months  I  had  read  it 
through.  While  thus  engaged  God  wrought  deep 
impressions  upon  my  heart,  and  the  light  and 
knowledge  received  from  the  Word  made  a  sinful  life 
appear  exceedingly  sinful,  and,  on  the  other  hand, 
a  Hfe  of  godliness  seemed  pleasant  and  blessed,  so 
that  I  heartily  desired  to  become  pious.  While 
reading  the  repeated  declarations:  "The  Lord 
spake  to  Moses  and  Aaron,  saying.  Speak  ye  with 
the  children  of  Israel,  saying,"  etc.,  the  words 
became  such  a  living  message  to  my  soul  as  if  they 
had  been  spoken  to  me  personally.  This  awak- 
ened still  greater  interest  and  also  a  longing  desire 
to  linderstand  and  comprehend  what  I  read.  A 
dream  was,  made  the  means  of  partly  gratifying 
this  desire.  I  dreamed  I  was  in  company  with 
Moses  and  Aaron,  while  the  Lord  came  from 
heaven  to  speak  to  them.  I  could  hear  the  voice, 
but  could  not  understand  what  was  said.    I  was 


176 


LIFE  AND  LABOES 


also  permitted  to  look  upon  Him,  but  He  was  sur- 
rounded by  such  a  glorious  light  that  I  could  form 
no  proper  conception  of  His  appearance.  His  pres- 
ence was  delightful  and  His  voice  sweet  and  charm- 
ing, so  that  I  felt  sorry  that  He  did  not  remain 
longer.  I  was  just  about  to  inquire  of  Moses  and 
Aaron  w^hat  the  "Lord  had  said,  as  I  had  no  doubt 
they  had  understood  his  voice,  when  I  awoke. 

This  dream  led  me  to  think  of  my  sinful  i^tate, 
and  also  more  earnestly  to  study  the  Scriptures. 
I  became  impressed  that  the  glorious  person  I  had 
seen  must  have  been  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and 
his  gracious  w^ords  the  Holy  Scriptures  which^ 
however,  1  did  not  understand,  although  1  heartily 
desired  to  know  them.  I  believed  if  I  would 
search  the  Scriptures  I  could  be  instructed  how  to 
know  Christ,  and  hoped  if  I  would  meditate  upon 
the  Word,  accompanied  with  prayer  and  supplica- 
tion, the  Lord  would  speak  graciously  to  me  and 
reveal  himself  gloriously  unto  me.  These  things 
produced  great  regard  in  my  mind  for  the  Holy 
Scriptures  and  the  Word  preached  by  God's  ser- 
vants, so  that  reading  and  hearing  the  Word  was 
pleasant  as  well  as  edifying,  and  my  faith,  that  the 
Bible  was  the  Word  of  God,  was  confirmed.  My 
leisure  hours  were  frequently  spent  in  reading  the 
Bible  to  refresh  my  soul. 

In  my  sixteenth  year  I  attended  the  catechetical 
instructions  of  a  Lutheran  minister  in  Reading,  Pa. 


GEO  flGE  MILLER. 


177 


The  arrangements  of  the  hiw  under  the  Mosaic 
dispensation;  the  ceremonial  worship  of  the  Isra- 
ehtes  being  only  types  and  shadows  pointing  to 
Christ,  and  fulfilled  in  him;  and  the  fact  that  the 
moral  law  was  still  binding  upon  Cliristirais.  inter- 
ested me  very  much.  I  became  very  anxious  to 
know  how  I  might  keep  the  law  of  God  perfectly, 
but  could  not  learn  this  from  the  instructions  of 
my  teacher.  He  told  us  much  about  laith,  but  I 
doubted  very  much  whether  he  had  ever  experi- 
enced the  poAver  of  saving  faith  in  his  own  souL 
He  told  us  to  believe  that  our  sins  were  pardoned, 
but  I  could  not  find  rest,  as  I  wanted  the  assurance 
that  I  had  received  the  remission  of  my  sins,  for  I 
knew  that  must  accompany  true  faith,  through 
which  the  world,  the  flesh  and  the  devil  could  be 
overcome;  but  how  to  receive  and  exercise  such 
faith  was  incomprehensible  to  my  mind.  By  the 
study  of  God's  Word  I  had  received  sufiicient  light 
to  know  that  I  must  repent,  that  there  must  be  a, 
godly  sorrow  on  account  of  sin.  and  that  I  must 
earnestly  call  upon  God  for  pardon ;  that  I  must 
be  ready,  for  Christ's  sake  and  the  sake  of  the  Gos- 
pel, 'to  bear  reproach  and  suffer  persecution.  But 
I  had  never  seen  any  one  praying  upon  bended 
knees,  and  besides  I  was  held  back  by  a  man-fear- 
ing spirit.  Finall}'  I  decided  to  become  a  Christian, 
but  I  would  keep  it  a  secret  I    However,  to  my 

sorrow,  I  did  not  succeed  very  well  in  mv  purpose, 
12 


178 


LITE  AND  LABORS  OF 


My  condition  became  so  deplorable  that  I  hardly 
knew  where  to  turn  in  my  grief;  still,  I  hoped  I 
would  find  pardon  and  the  assurance  of  the  grace 
of  God  at  the  time  of  my  confirmation ;  however, 
this  also  passed  by,  and  I  was  not  saved!  I 
received  the  Lord's  Supper,  and  thought  I  believed 
the  words  spoken,  namely,  that  the  blood  of  Christ 
was  shed  for  the  remission  of  sins ; "  but  still  I 
found  no  peace,  my  sad  condition  continued,  and  I 
returned  to  my  home  in  sorrow. 

The  following  day  I  was  still  discussing  the 
question  in  my  mind.  What  must  I  do  to  be  saved  ? 
I  finally  resolved  to  go  to  some  secluded  spot  in 
the  woods  and  kneel  down  and  ask  God  for  pardon. 
However,  when  I  reached  the  place,  I  began  to 
discuss  the  question  with  myself,  whether  I  should 
kneel  down  or  not.  I  was  afraid  lest  some  one 
might  see  me  and  laugh  at  me.  I  began  to  medi- 
tate upon  the  instructions  I  had  received  from  the 
minister,  and  at  last  resolved  to  abide  by  what  I 
had  been  told,  and  should  I  be  lost,  the  responsi- 
bility would  rest  with  him,  but  hoped  that  not  all 
would  be  lost  who  did  not  pray  upon  their  knees, 
and  had  not  experienced  a  change  of  heart. 

From  this  time  on  I  lost  all  inclination  toward 
religion,  and  my  love  for  Bible-reading  finalh^  van- 
ished altogether,  so  that  I  not  only  lost  all  desire 
to  become  pious,  but  yielded  to  one  sin  after 
another,  until  I  became  a  leader  in  all  manner  of 


GEORGE  MILLEE. 


179 


wickedness,  inciting  others  to  sin  also.  An 
awakened  conscience,  frequently  alarming  and 
terrifying  me,  I  attempted  to  quiet  by  plunging 
into  still  deeper  depths  of  iniquity.  I  had  become 
so  jDolluted  and  ruined  by  sin.  that  I  became  an 
abomination  both  to  God  and  man.  I  realized  that 
I  had  provoked  the  wrath  of  God,  and  that  my 
sins  justly  merited  eternal  damnation.  During 
heavy  thunderstorms  I  became  fearfully  alarmed, 
often  afraid  the  next  thunderbolt  might  strike  me 
do^vn  to  hell.  Several  times  my  life  was  endan- 
gered. Once,  while  carelessly  bathing  in  the 
Schuylkill  river.  I  came  very  nearly  being 
drowned.  In  mv  fria'ht  I  called  out.  **  I  am  lost!" 
I  suffered  so  much  from  fear  that  I  really  became 
sick.  On  several  occasions  I  sustained  heavy  falls 
from  buildings  and  trees.  I  also  sufiered  much  on 
account  of  frightful  dreams,  so  that  I  was  in  almost 
constant  misery.  What  wretchedness!  I  had  no 
peace  with  God,  and  had  lost  favor  with  men. 

In  my  nineteenth  year  I  went  to  live  with  mv 
brother  John  and  a  man  by  the  name  of  Conrad 
Dunkel,  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  millwright.  For- 
tunately Mr.  Dunkel  was  an  honorable,  well- 
behaved,  and  industrious  single  young  man.  His 
exemplary  conduct  put  me  to  shame,  and  made 
deep  impressions  upon  my  mind,  so  that  I  resolved 
to  reform  my  silly  and  dissolute  life.  Through 
industry  and  obedience  I  soon  gained  his  esteem. 


180 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


Possessing  some  natural  mechanical  talent,  and 
having  been  in  and  around  grist  mills  from  my 
youth,  as  I  had -worked  in  my  father's  mill,  I  soon 
became  master  of  my  trade.  My  masters,  who 
had  taken  much  pains  with  me,  also  assisted  me 
in  obtaining  work  after  my  apprenticeship  had 
been  served,  as  they  seemed  to  deUght  in  my  wel- 
fare, and  were  always  ready  to  assist  me  when  I 
needed  help. 

I  now  began  to  mature  plans  how  I  might  make 
an  honest  living.  I  had  also  regained  the  confi- 
dence and  esteem  of  honorable  men,  who  aided  me 
by  their  counsel;  although  I  was  still  a  slave  to 
many  treacherous  sins.  Divine  providence,  how- 
ever, seemed  to  lead  me,  so  that  I  became  more 
moral.  Although  my  former  sins  and  the  reproofs 
of  Mr.  Dunkel  had  greatly  humbled  me,  yet  the 
following  occurrence  seemed  to  have  the  greatest 
effect  upon  me :  While  I  was  serving  my  appren- 
ticeship my  father's  mill  had  been  rented.  The 
miller  employed  several  coopers,  who  made  flour 
barrels  in  the  mill.  Through  their  carelessness 
the  shavings  took  fire,  and  the  mill  with  its  entire 
contents  became  a  prey  to  the  flames.  I  was  just 
on  my  way  home  to  visit  my  mother,  and  not  very 
far  from  the  mill,  when  I  saw  the  smoke  ascending. 
By  the  time  I  reached  the  mill  the  entire  building 
was  enveloped  in  flames.  When  my  father  built 
the  mill  he  had  a  stone  with  the  following  inscrip- 


GEORGE  MILLER. 


181 


tion  put  into  the  wall  above  the  door :  "  God  can 
biiild  and  can  destroy,  he  can  give,  and  he  can 
take  away,  even  as  it  seemeth  good  in  his  sight." 
These  words,  through  the  Spirit  of  God,  penetrated 
my  soul,  so  that  I  cried  out :  "  This  is  true,  God 
can  give  and  take  away."  I  acknowledged  the 
righteousness  of  God  in  allowing  this  misfortune 
to  befall  us,  and  felt  that  we  had  deserved  even 
greater  punishment.  I  now  again  formed  the  reso- 
lution to  change  my  life,  and  also  aided  in  rebuild- 
ing the  mill.  By  the  help  of  God  and  the  kind 
aid  o*f  our  neighbors,  it  was  completed  within  four 
months,  and  thus  the  inscription  "God  can  build," 
was  also  verified.  The  Lord  influenced  the  hearts 
of  the  jDCople  that  they  came  to  our  help,  and  in 
this  way  were  enabled  to  complete  the  work. 
These  things  induced  me  to  form  a  resolution 
always  to  remember  those  who  were  in  want. 

About  this  time  I  heard  of  a  certain  class  of 
people  who  were  very  much  persecuted  on  account 
of  their  religious  worship.  The  reports  concerning 
these  peo23le  were  very  contradictory,  so  that  I  felt 
a  desire  to  become  acquainted  with  them,  and 
finnlly  found  opportunity  to  do  so.  Some  I  found 
still  clinging  to  their  old  Church  customs,  while 
others  would  have  nothing  whatever  to  do  with 
them.  I  inquired,  why  they  were  called  such 
odious  names.  They  replied,  because  they  had 
forsaken  sin  and  made  a  profession  of  experimental 


182 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


religion  they  were  being  persecuted.  I  conversed 
with  some,  and  although  they  were  awakened,  and 
held  that  men  must  be  born  again,  and  have  the 
assurance  of  their  acceptance  with  God,  in  order 
to  be  at  peace ;  still  I  could  not  receive  clear  and 
intelligent  views  during  my  conversations  with 
them;  however,  I  entertained  great  respect  for 
them,  as  I  could  feel  free  to  open  my  heart  to 
them. 

One  evening,  while  G.  R  and  I  were  speak- 
ing about  religion,  I  proposed  we  would  kneel 
down  and  pray  to  God  for  his  grace.  While  I 
spoke  I  felt  so  strong  that  the  words  seemed  to 
enter  our  souls  with  much  force.  But  I  noticed 
that  my  friend  felt  ashamed  of  me  and  left  the 
room.  I  also  began  to  feel  ashamed  of  my  propo- 
sition, and  immediately  the  Spirit  left  me.  After- 
wards I  hardly  ventured  to  reveal  the  condition  of 
my  soul  to  any  one.  However,  on  meeting  a 
Reformed  minister,  whom  I  regarded  as  a  pious 
man,  I  ventured  to  speak  to  him.  He  endeavored 
to  comfort  me  by  saying  my  condition  was  not  as 
bad  as  I  thought,  the  only  obstacle  apparently 
being  a  doubt  as  to  my  election.  But  I  told  him 
that  that  was  not  my  trouble;  that  I  never 
doubted  that  all  who  would  fully  consecrate  them- 
selves to  God  would  be  accepted  by  him ;  but  that 
I  had  no  clear  views  as  to  how  to  give  myself  fully 
into  the  Lord's  hands.    I  told  him  I  had  forsaken 


GEORGE  MILLEE.  183 

sin,  but  still  my  heart  was  unrenewed,  and  I  knew 
unless  I  experienced  genuine  conversion  I  could 
not  be  saved.  He  gave  me  a  curt  reply.  It  seemed 
to  me  that  he  either  was  confused  or  afraid,  at 
least  he  never  visited  me  again,  although  I  urgent- 
ly  invited  him  to  come.  Even  some  awakened 
persons  tried  to  persuade  me  that  my  spiritual 
condition  was  right,  as  I  has  ceased  from  flagrant 
transgressions ;  however,  the  Sj^irit  of  God  would 
not  allow  me  to  confide  in  these  false  assurances  of 
peace.  I  also  had  the  privilege  of  reading  good 
religious  books,  among  which  was  Joseph  Alleine's 
Foundation  of  True  Christianity. 

In  my  worldly  matters  I  had  great  success,  for 
in  a  few  years  I  had  already  saved  over  a  thousand 
dollars.  During  this  time  I  also  had  many 
internal  calls  to  conversion,  and  regarded  it  as 
remarkable  that  God  permitted  everything  to  pros- 
per in  my  hands.  I  was  convinced  that  I  must 
finally  give  a  strict  account  if  I  did  not  turn  to  the 
Lord.  Through  my  business  I  became  acquainted 
with  many  wealthy  and  influential  people,  who 
spared  no  means  to  instruct  me  in  the  customs  and 
modes  of  the  higher  wordly  circles,  and  if  I  had 
not  withdrawn  mvself  from  them,  I  soon  would 
have  become  a  Free-Thinker,  for  their  associations 
gave  me  more  pleasure  and  satisfaction  than  all 
the  usual  church  customs  of  worldly  churches, 
and  it  is  no  wonder  that  many  have  fallen  into 


184 


LIFE  AND  LABOES  OF 


Deism  and  Atheism,  and  have  no  love  for  the 
Christian  religion,  because  many  so-called  Christian 
people  are  really  wicked. 

In  consequence  of  these  things  I  had  severe  con- 
flicts, for  when  I  read  the  Bible,  especially  about 
the  sufferings  of  Christ,  I  was  overflowing  with 
blasphemous  thoughts,  as  though  it  was  not  true 
what  was  recorded  there,  so  that  I  once  arose  from 
my  chair  with  the  Bible  in  my  hand,  and  fell  upon 
my  knees  and  cried  out:  ^^0  Lord,  let  me  not 
become  a  Deist!  Oh,  take  these  blasphemous 
thoughts  from  me,  and  I  will  be  converted ! " 

In  the  year  1798  I  bought  a  tract  of  land  in 
Brunswick  Township,  Schuylkill  County,  Pa., 
where  I  built  a  mill,  and  I  made  up  my  mind  that, 
when  my  mill  was  finished,  I  would  quit  building 
mills,  and  engage  in  milling  and  seek  God  with 
all  my  heart.  And  as  in  all  this  everything  went 
according  to  my  wishes,  and  the  mill  was  in  full 
running  order,  the  Lord  reminded  me  of  my  vow, 
^ind  I  became  obedient,  for  I  now  commenced  to 
pray  in  my  closet,  to  weep  over  my  sins  and  read 
the  Holy  Scriptures  upon  my  knees.  In  this  peni- 
tent condition  Providence  ordered  it  so,  that  I  met 
the  Evangelical  preacher  Jacob  Albright,  and 
heard  him  preach.  His  modest  demeanor,  his 
pious,  cheerful  countenance,  which  seemed  to  glow 
with  love  to  God  and  man,  and  his  mild  yet  ear- 
nest and  penetrating  look  with  which  he  gazed 


GEOEGE  MILLER. 


185 


upon  the  people,  at  once  disarmed  my  former 
prejudices,  producing  admiration  for  the  man,  and 
a  desire  to  hear  him  preach.  He  preached  from 
the  words:  Behold,  I  'place  before  you  the  imy 
of  life  and  the  way  of  deaths — Jer.  21.  8.  I  was 
touched  in  such  a  manner  through  his  powerful 
sermon  that  if  I  had  not  taken  hold  of  a  table,  I 
should  have  -sunk  to  the  floor.  After  the  sermon 
I  conversed  with  him ;  his  exhortation  was  short, 
but  solemn,  for  he  said :  "  You  must  pray  earnes1> 
ly.  humble  yourself,  willingly  take  upon  you  the 
cross  of  Christ  and  believe  with  all  your  heart, 
and  you  will  soon  find  peace."  The  following  day 
I  accompanied  him  to  his  next  appointment,  and 
heard  him  preach  the  second  time ;  and  when  we 
parted  I  requested  him  to  pray  for  me. 

I  had  now  fully  resolved  to  choose  the  way  of 
life,  but  still  for  three  long  j^ears  I  continued  in 
this  penitent  and  sorrowing  condition,  always  being 
kept  back  by  unbelief  and  presumption,  yet  finally 
was  able  to  believe,  and  received  the  pardon  of  my 
sins. 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord,  1800,  I  was  married  to 
Magdalena  Brobst.  Two  years  later  I  built  a 
house  near  my  mill,  and  we  moved  into  it.  At 
this  time  my  mind  was  entirely  engrossed  with 
family  and  business  cares,  but  the  Lord,  still  mind- 
ful of  me,  sent  his  servant,  Jacob  Albright,  to  my 
house,  who  asked  for  a  night's  lodging.    I  was 


186 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


very  glad  to  see  him  and  received  him  cordially. 
I  asked  him  many  questions,  being  anxious 
about  many  things,  but  he  gave  me  very  brief 
answers.  However,  he  prayed  with  me  and  my 
family  so  powerfully  that  I  was  moved  to  tears, 
and  he  improved  the  opportunity  to  point  out  the 
necessity  of  a  genuine  conversion  to  God.  The 
next  day  I  went  with  him  to  his  appointment  at 
the  house  of  Leonard  Zimmerman,  sen.  On  the 
way  I  told  him  that  for  several  years  I  had  been 
penitent,  but  had  been  seeking  in  vain;  that  I 
had  not  yet  experienced  pardon  for  sin,  and  had 
no  assurance  of  my  acceptance  with  God.  He 
then  told  me  that  I  must  submit  myself  wholly  to 
God,  believe  on  him  and  trust  his  grace,  and  be 
willing  to  bear  his  cross  and  reproach  with  the 
people  of  God,  even  though  every  one  should  be 
against  me;  for  unless  I  separated  myself  from 
all  sin,  came  out  from  the  world,  and  became  obe- 
dient to  God  with  all  my  heart,  and  willing  to  live 
for  him,  and  serve  him  alone,  I  might  yet  repent 
for  many  years  and  at  last  be  rejected  and  con- 
demned by  God  for  disobedience.  We  arrived  at 
the  place  of  the  appointment.  Albright  preached 
powerfully  and  with  great  liberty,  so  that  I  was 
fully  convinced  that  no  person  could  do  so  without 
the  grace  of  God  assisting  him.  Powerfully  affected 
by  this  sermon,  I  firmly  resolved  from  this  time 
on   to  work   out   my  salvation,  and  requested 


GEOEaE  MILLER. 


187 


Albright  to  preach  also  in  my  house  the  Gospel  of 
a  crucified  Christ,  which  he  immediately  promised, 
and  appointed  a  time  when  he  would  come.  In 
the  meantime  I  prayed  a  great  deal,  beseeching 
God  in  my  closet  for  the  forgiveness  of  my  sins. 
The  grief  of  my  soul  was  so  great  that  I  had  the 
appearance  of  being  sick,  nothing  in  the  world 
affording  me  any  pleasure;  I  only  had  hungering 
and  thirsting  for  the  grace  of  God  in  the  pardon  of 
my  sins.  After  spending  several  years  in  this  mis-^ 
erable  condition  under  a  load  of  guilt,  it  j^leased  a 
gracious  and  merciful  God  to  deliver  me  from  my 
sad  estate.  On  the  3d  of  June,  1802,  I  wept  and 
prayed  all  day  while  engaged  at  my  work,  walk-^ 
ing  back  and  forth  in  my  mill,  frequently  falling 
upon  my  knees  in  praj'er,  calling  upon  God  for 
help,  and  vowed  to  serve  him  only,  whatever 
might  be  the  consequences.  As  I  thus  gave  my- 
self entirely  to  God,  through  faith,  to  ser^'e  him 
alone,  I  was  permitted  in  the  evening  to  have  a 
glimpse  of  the  saving  mercy  of  his  grace.  By  faith 
I  saw  God  looking  upon  me,  and  while  beholding 
his  gracious  countenance  a  stream  of  his  love 
flowed  into  my  soul,  and  I  was  certain  that  God 
was  surely  my  friend,  and  I  his  accepted  child. 
Yea,  I  was  so  quickened  by  the  reception  of  His 
grace,  and  pervaded  with  such  peaceful,  sweet  and 
happy  emotions,  that  I  could  not  keep  from  prais- 
ing my  Redeemer  for  his  great  mercy  and  love. 


188 


LIFE  AlTD  LABORS  OF 


That  night  I  could  sleep  without  any  cares,  joy- 
fully resting  in  Christ.  The  following  morning 
there  was  a  great  change  indeed.  The  heavens 
and  the  earth  seemed  new.  The  Scriptures  had 
become  a  divinely  quickening  power,  yea,  to  me 
all  things  appeared  as  if  they  increased  my  happi- 
ness, for  God  had  become  my  friend.  Glory  be  to 
God  on  high  for  his  love  and  mercy. 

Notwithstanding  God  had  done  such  great  things 
for  me,  still  I  was  too  timid  to  make  a  public  pro- 
fession of  my  experience.  One  reason  was,  that  I 
^vas  afraid  it  might  be  considered  as  being  auda- 
cious and  egotistical,  and  another  because  I  thought 
one  who  had  been  so  great  a  sinner  as  I,  ought  not 
to  be  so  bold.  But  through  this  ignorance  I 
became  subject  to  many  doubts  and  fears,  lost  the 
power  to  pray  with  my  family  publicly,  became 
discouraged,  timid  and  unable  trustfully  to  say : 
Abba,  Father,  although  I  still  continued  to  pray 
in  my  closet.    My  wife  had  also  become  concerned 


*  This  was  an  Evangelical  conversion,  and  certainly  also  tnily 
Scriptural.  A  thorough  knowledge  of  sin,  godly  sorrow  on  account 
■of  sin,  and  separation  from  sin,  and  repentance  which  ended  in  the 
victory  of  faith  in  Christ,  and  the  witness  of  the  Holy  Spirit  unto 
adoption.  Thus  the  foundation  unto  holiness,  steadfastness,  and 
triumph  in  death  was  clearly  and  firmly  laid.  In  the  primitive  days 
of  the  Evangelical  Association  no  one  was  satisfied  simply  with  mere 
hoping  and  uncertain  feeling,  hut  each  one  wished  to  say  with  Paul: 
"  I  tell  the  trutlj  and  lie  not ;  this  testimony  my  conscience  gives  me 
through  the  Holy  Ghost."  The  assurance  of  faith  was  one  of  the  lead- 
ing features  of  the  preaching  of  the  fathers.  [R.  Y.] 


GEORGE  MILLER. 


189- 


about  her  soul,  and  noticed  my  difficulties.  We- 
often  knelt  together,  but  each  was  ashamed  of  the 
other  to  offer  an  audible  ]3i*ayer.  However,  at  a 
big  meeting,  held  at  the  house  of  Jacob  Philipps,  I 
was  delivered  from  this  snare. 

I  suffered  but  little  persecution  at  this  time.  A 
few  persons,  to  whom  my  conduct  seemed  strange,, 
ridiculed  me  on  account  of  it.  And,  although 
Albright  had  been  preaching  in  my  house  for  some 
time,  I  nevertheless  passed  as  a  good  Churchman 
among  my  neighbors,  and  they  were  still  inclined 
to  be  on  good  terms  with  me,  as  they  indulged 
the  hope  I  would  soon  learn  to  know  Albright,  and 
then  dismiss  him.  But  thanks  be  unto  God  that, 
he  led  me  to  become  acquainted  with  this  man, 
who  was  so  bitterly  hated  by  evil-doers ;  yea,, 
blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord  that  I  learned  to- 
know  myself  and  my  God  through  the  labors  and 
teachings  of  this  man  of  God.  Albright  had 
invited  me  and  my  brother  Solomon  to  come  to- 
the  meeting  at  Philipps',  and  we  concluded  to. 
accept  the  invitation ;  we  had,  however,  agreed  to 
ask  God  for  wisdom  and  help,  that  if  we  should 
discover  anything  unclean  and  impure  among 
these  people,  God  should  preserve  us  from  becom-^ 
ing  contaminated  with  it. 

The  day  before  we  started  I  had  a  very  severe: 
trial:  I  was  mowing  buckwheat,  and  became 
impressed  I  should  not  attend  this  meeting.  I 


190 


LIFE  AND  LABOES  OF 


knelt  down  several  times  and  asked  God  with  tears 
to  direct  me,  and  each  time  I  felt  as  if  I  ought  to 
^o.  Finally  the  conflict  in  my  mind  ceased,  and  I 
became  calm,  and  was  enabled  to  rest  in  the  Lord, 
and  resolved  to  go,  because  I  began  to  feel  as  if 
the  devil  was  trying  to  keep  me  away  from  the 
meeting.  The  next  morning  when  I  met  my 
brother  I  told  him  about  my  conflicts,  and  he 
replied  that  he  had  experienced  similar  tempta- 
tions. We  then  journeyed  to  the  place  of  the 
meeting  cheerfully  and  joyfully,  and  arrived  there 
in  the  evening.  A  young  man  named  John  Wal- 
ter preached.  I  listened  very  attentively  to  the 
Word.  He  preached  with  great  zeal  and  power. 
There  was  a  deep  feeling  in  the  congregation,  and 
occasionally  a  loud  groan  was  heard.  A  kind  of 
fear  came  over  me,  but  I  continued  praying  to 
God,  and  I  felt  convinced  that  God  was  with  these 
people.  But  my  confidence  very  soon  left  me,  for 
after  the  sermon  was  over,  they  commenced  to 
sing  with  great  earnestness  and  joy,  and  then  all 
prayed  at  once  with  great  vehemence,  becoming 
louder  and  louder,  until  there  was  a  great  noise, 
which  could  be  heard  at  quite  a  distance.  The 
most  repulsive  to  me,  however,  was  that  some 
sprang  upon  their  feet,  .and  shouted  and  praised 
God  so  loud  that  it  made  my  ears  tingle.  After 
observing  this  agitation,  I  was  inclined  to  think 
that  such  confusion  could  not  be  the  work  of  the 


GEOEGE  MILLER. 


191 


Holy  Ghost;  still  I  prayed  to  God  that  he  might 
mercifully  direct  me.  I  knew  very  well  that  liv- 
ing in  sin  was  not  right;  I  felt  that  I  was  not 
right  myself,  and  according  to  my  opinion  these 
praying  people  were  not  right  either!  Well, 
thought  I,  God  certainly  is  right,  and  him  who 
seeks  the  Lord  with  all  his  heart  he  will  lead 
aright,  so  I  will  call  upon  God,  and  he  Avill  guide 
me  aright.  If  others  should  not  be  upright  before 
him,  I  will  still  try  to  serve  God  with  all  my 
heart;  I  will  not  stray  from  the  truth.  0  my 
God,  make  me  right !  While  I  thus  resolved,  and 
continued  earnestly  in  prayer,  I  experienced  the 
love  of  God  shed  abroad  in  my  heart  similar  to 
my  first  experience  in  the  mill,  only  with  greater 
power  and  in  a  much  larger  measure.  I  raised  up 
my  head  and  cried  out :  "  The  Lord  is  my  friend." 
After  I  had  said  this,  I  was  lifted  up  by  the  power 
of  God,  not  being  able  to  restrain  myself,  but 
sprang  to  my  feet  and  praised  God  with  a  loud 
voice.  But  I  noticed  that  several  of  those  who 
professed  to  be  converted  smiled,  and  this  again 
caused  me  a  struggle,  so  I  fell  upon  my  knees, 
again  calling  mightily  upon  God,  and  now  I  was 
so  filled  with  the  love  of  God,  that  I  could  not 
restrain  myself,  but  rejoiced  with  great  joy.  I 
afterwards  discovered  that  the  friends  smiled 
because  they  also  rejoiced  that  I  had  received  such 
a  great  blessing.    My  brother  Solomon  was  also 


192 


LIFE  AND  LABOKS  OF 


blessed  at  this  meeting,  and  thus,  like  the  Eunuch, 
we  returned  to  our  homes  rejoicing.  I  now  com- 
menced to  have  worship  in  my  family,  although 
in  great  weakness,  yet  the  Lord  increased  my  faith 
and  strength  day  by  day. 

My  brother  and  I  frequently  visited  each  other 
and  prayed  together.  My  brother's  wife  also  was 
soon  afterwards  converted  to  God,  which  gave  us 
much  encouragement  and  joy.  My  wife,  however, 
seemed  to  be  more  confirmed  in  her  views  and  un- 
willing to  accept  my  explanation  of  the  Scriptures 
as  being  correct.  Her  parents  also  were  like- 
minded.  This  caused  me  considerable  grief,  yet  I 
was  determined  to  remain  firm.  The  moral  per- 
sons I  spoke  of  above,  also  fully  expressed  them- 
selves in  reference  to  our  conduct,  and  seemed  con- 
cerned, lest  we  might  become  spiritually  proud. 
They  said  that  others  before  us  had  acted  in  the 
same  way,  but  had  not  held  out.  Still  these  things 
did  not  move  me,  but  only  served  as  a  warning  not 
to  receive  the  grace  of  God  in  vain,  and  I  called  upon 
God  for  persevering  grace  and  an  increase  of  faith, 
that  I  might  endure  unto  the  end ;  for  already  the 
spirit  of  persecution  was  alive  in  our  neighborhood. 

In  the  year  1803,  on  Easter,  a  big  meeting" 
was  held  at  the  house  of  my  brother.  Albright 
preached  with  such  power  and  effect  that  some  of 
his  hearers  became  alarmed  and  fled  from  the 
meeting,  but  were  converted  upon  reaching  their 


GEOEGE  MILLER. 


193 


homes.  Others,  who  remained,  cried  out  for 
mercy  and  pardon,  among  whom  were  also  my 
wife  and  several  of  her  sisters.  I  now  received 
new  strength  and  courage,  was  filled  with  fervent 
love  to  God  and  man,  my  delight  being  in  the 
Lord,  whose  grace  and  mercy  I  freely  confessed 
before  the  world,  giving  him  all  glory  and  praise. 


13 


194 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


PART  SECOND. 


Miller  is  Appointed  Class-Leader. — Starts  out  as  an  Itinerant 
Minister,  and  his  Severe  Trials.  —  A  Great  Revival  in 
Buffalo,  Penn  and  Moser  s  Valleys^  etc. 

^INCE  God  thus'  blessed  the  preached  Word  in 
our  neigborhood,  so  that  a  number  of  persons 
were  led  to  Christ,  and  were  now  determined,  by 
the  grace  of  God,  to  save  their  souls,  we  united 
ourselves  into  a  society  or  class,  in  order  to  remind 
each  other  of  our  duties,  to  watch  over  each  other 
in  love  and  to  pray  for  each  other,  and  thus  unit- 
edly to  work  out  our  soul's  salvation.  Bro. 
Albright  appointed  me  as  leader  of  the  class,  to 
fix  the  time  and  place  for  public  prayer,  and  to 
admonish,  instruct,  encourage,  comfort  or  reprove, 
as  circumstances  might  require.  To  this  Union 
were  added  a  number  of  persons  who  were  earnest- 
ly seeking  Christ.  The  office  of  watching  over  the 
;souls  of  the  members  of  the  class,  caused  me  many 
severe  trials.  When  I  was  to  deliver  the  first 
public  exhortation  to  them,  I  could  speak  but  a 
few  words  on  account  of  my  timidity.  I  felt  very 
much  humiliated,  and  called  the  more  earnestly 
upon  God,  both  publicly  and  privately,  for  the 
necessary  qualifications  to  become  useful  among 


GEORGE  MILLER, 


195 


the  flock.  The  Lord  answered  my  prayer,  and 
became  strength  in  my  weakness,  so  that  I  was 
very  soon  enabled  to  speak  with  considerable  bold- 
ness and  liberty  to  the  honor  of  God  and  the  edifi- 
•cation  of  the  class  and  the  people.  I  partook  of 
the  fruits  in  my  own  soul;  my  brethren  were 
strenghtened  and  praised  God,  and  some  were 
brought  to  repentance  and  conversion,  while  others 
mocked  and  opposed  the  truth. 

Persecution  now  commenced  in  earnest.  Hav- 
ing separated  myself  from  all  sin,  and  w^arned  my 
neighbors  on  account  of  it,  I  encountered  opposi- 
tion and  incurred  their  displeasure,  especially  as  I 
had  united  with  the  people  who  were  so  bitterly 
Itaied  by  the  ungodly.  An  ungodly  minister  tried 
to  persuade  his  congregation  to  disturb  the  meet- 
ings held  in  my  house,  threatening  to  resign  if  this 
was  not  done.  This  false  teacher  soon  afterwards 
•entered  upon  his  reward.  Another  unconverted 
preacher  one  Sabbath  came  with  about  thirty  of 
his  members  to  my  house,  in  order  to  convince  me 
of  the  error  of  my  w^ays,  and,  as  he  said,  to 
persuade  me  to  desist  from  continuing  therein. 
But,  perceiving  that  his  flattery  did  not  accomplish 
its  desired  purpose,  he  became  very  angry  and 
began  to  scold,  and  finally  rushed  out  of  the  house 
in  his  wrath,  so  that  his  companions  were  heartily 
ashamed  of  him.  Several  of  them,  however,  after- 
wards wreaked  their  vengeance  upon  me  by  break- 


196 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


ing  my  windows,  stopping  the  water  passage  of  my 
mill,  and  committing  otlier  fiendish  deeds.  I  was 
also  notified  not  to  cross  some  land  belonging  to 
the  church  property,  although  a  public  road 
passed  over  it  leading  to  one  of  my  fields.  I 
nevertheless  ventured  to  cross  over  it,  and  the 
schoolmaster  threw  clubs  and  stones  at  me,  but  he 
also  soon  afterwards  passed  into  eternity.  Some 
withdrew  their  custom  from  my  mill ;  my  creditors 
pressed  me  sorely,  while  my  debtors  purposely 
neglected  to  settle  their  accounts.  Several  times 
I  was  maltreated,  the  officers  of  the  law  refusing 
to  punish  the  offenders.  At  an  evening  meeting, 
held  in  my  house,  Albright  was  fiercely  abused  by 
a  young  man.  As  kind  words  were  unavailing,  I 
tried  to  eject  him  from  the  house,  but  his  compan- 
ions dragged  me  along  outdoors,  where  they  fell 
upon  me  like  a  pack  of  wolves  upon  a  sheep. 
Stones  and  clubs  came  now  flying  from  all  direc- 
tions, and  one  screamed  here  and  another  there : 
"  Strike  him !  Strike  him !  "  But  I  received  only 
slight  blows,  and  all  their  strength  could  not  keep 
me  down;  for  I  became  so  strong,  that  I  could 
throw  them  down  to  my  right  and  left  like  little 
children,  and  pressed  back  towards  the  door,  where 
I  was  seized  by  my  brethren  and  brought  back 
into  the  house  without  being  hurt  much.  As  soon 
as  the  door  was  closed,  stones  were  thrown 
against  it  with  great  force.    Thanks  be  unto  God, 


GEOEGE  MILLER. 


197 


who  saved  me  from  the  lion's  jaws.  I  proceeded 
against  the  offenders,  but  even  the  Justice  of  the 
Peace  sided  with  the  ruffians^  and  so  they  escaped 
punishment.  However,  I  was  vindicated  after  all, 
and  the  right  triumphed.  The  young  man  referred 
to  had  stolen  some  money,  and  was  compelled  to 
flee  the  country,  while  the  Justice  of  the  Peace  was 
proven  to  be  incompetent,  and  removed  from  office, 
and  soon  after  left  the  neighborhood. 

Persecution  now  ran  high,  but  the  grace  of  God 
was  sufficient.  My  nearest  relatives  frequently 
were  my  greatest  persecutors.  My  father-in-law 
made  a  strong  effort  to  break  up  the  meetings  held 
at  the  house  of  my  brother  Solomon.  At  one  time 
he  came  intending  to  frighten  Albright  and  the 
others  who  were  present;  he  rushed  madl}'  up- 
stairs, where  several  sisters  were  engaged  in  secret 
prayer,  and,  drawing  a  cane-sword,  he  breathed 
out  fearful  threatenings.  However,  Sister  Magda- 
lena Walter  courageously  walked  up  to  him,  say- 
ing they  were  neither  afraid  of  him  nor  of  his 
sword,  but  she  would  serve  and  praise  God,  and, 
if  need  be,  was  even  ready  to  die  for  Christ !  We 
all  called  so  mightily  upon  God  for  help,  that  the 
man  became  so  confused  and  disconcerted  that  he 
left  the  house,  and  afterwards  confessed  that  on 
his  way  home  he  got  off  his  horse  and  wept  and 
prayed.  The  conduct  of  this  man  caused  me  the 
severest  trials  that  I  ever  had,  for  I  knew  his  pre- 


198 


LIFE  AND  LABOES  OF 


sumption  ;  yet  even  this,  as  all  other  temptations, 
worked  together  for  my  good.  For  under  trials  I 
was  to  learn  humility,  gentleness  and  patience;  as- 
also  how  to  deny  myself. 

I  now  sold  my  land  and  mill,  and  wanted  to 
move  to  Buffalo  Yallej^,  but  afterwards  bought 
land  in  Albany,  Berks  County,  Pa.,  which  I  had 
rented  before.  Here  I  again  plunged  into  business, 
and  would  soon  have  become  involved  in  worldly 
matters  (by  means  of  which  Satan  has  already 
dragged  many  to  hell),  if  I  had  not  resolved  to 
forsake  all  for  Jesus  and  the  Gospel,  and  to  start 
out  as  an  itinerant  preacher,  for  the  salvation  of 
my  fellow  men  lay  very  near  my  heart.  I  there- 
fore rented  my  house,  and  in  four  weeks  was  ready- 
to  travel. 

I  was  now  like  a  bird  that  had  escaped  the  snare 
of  the  fowler;  still,  I  had  many  things  to  con- 
tend w4th.  My  relatives  and  friends  ofiered  many 
carnal  objections  against  my  entering  the  itiner- 
ancy: how  I  would  lose  temporally,  that  a  man 
must  also  care  for  his  family,  and  what  an  advant- 
age it  was  to  possess  some  means,  etc.  They 
spoke  as  if  my  family  was  already  in  want,  and  as 
if  God  either  could  not  or  would  not  care  for  his 
own.  But  I  would  not  allow  them  to  discourage 
me,  and  with  Job  despised  my  false  friends,  put- 
ting my  trust  in  God,  willing  rather  to  lose  all  my 
temporal  possessions  than  to  displease  him.  I 


GEOEGE  MILLEE. 


199 


consecrated  m}^  all  to  the  Lord  in  all  confidence, 

looking  unto  Jesus,  the  author  and  finisher  of  my 

faith,  who  was  rich,  but  became  poor  that  we, 

through  His  poverty,  might  become  rich. 

In  April,  1805,  I  started  as  an  itinerant  under 

charge  of  Jacob  Albright  and  John  Walter.  At 

first  I  was  not  so  clear  in  my  own  mind  in  refer- 

«/ 

ence  to  my  call  to  the  ministry,  although  I  was 
ready  to  say  to  the  Lord  with  Isaiah :  **  Here  am 
I,  send  me;"  and  although  I  had  long  since  felt 
an  inclination  to  preach  the  Gospel,  from  which  I 
might  have  drawn  the  conclusion  that  I  was 
called,  like  Jeremiah,  from  my  mothers  womb, 
yet  this  did  not  and  could  not  satisfy  me.  I  was 
considerably  perplexed.  With  Paul,  I  did  not 
wish  to  run  uncertainly,  and  yet  I  could  find  rest 
in  no  other  way.  How  many  rush  into  the  ofiice 
of  the  ministry,  whose  only  object  is  the  applause 
of  men,  the  accumulation  of  wealth,  and  an  easy 
life,  although  God  has  only  promised  a  sufiiciency 
for  our  needs!  However,  before  a  year  had 
elapsed,  all  doubt  respecting  my  call  was  at  an 
end,  as  well  through  internal  as  external  evidence ; 
for  more  than  one  hundred  souls  had  been  saved 
through  my  weak  efforts,  and  my  conceptions  of 
the  Scriptures,  which  were  very  indistinct  at  first, 
became  clearer  and  clearer  through  the  illumina- 
tion of  the  Spirit,  so  that  I  could  testify  to  the 
truth  with  greater  clearness  and  faith ;  and  though. 


200 


LIFE  AND  LABOES  OF 


the  Word  proved  "  a  stumbling  block  to  the  Jews, 
and  foolishness  to  the  Greeks/'  yet  to  those  who 
believed  it  was  "divine  wisdom  and  power  unto 
salvation." — God  be  praised  that  he  did  not  suffer 
me  to  run  with  uncertainty,  but  confirmed  my 
calling!  Yes,  praise  to  his  holy  name,  that 
although  he  sent  me  forth  before  I  could  fully 
understand  his  will,  while  suffering  reproach  and 
shame,  I  became  confirmed  that  this  way  was 
especially  well  pleasing  to  him,  that  is,  that  I  had 
united  with  those  who  were  chosen  of  God, 
although  hated  by  a  wicked  world,  to  build  ujp  a 
Church  in  the  love  and  knowledge  of  God ;  a  work 
which,  in  view  of  the  many  and  great  obstacles, 
seemed  almost  impossible  to  ourselves  and  others. 
Some  Christian  denominations  condemned  our 
work  as  presumptuous,  and  in  the  eyes  of  the  world 
it  seemed  ridiculous.  But  that  God,  who  without 
the  help  of  man's  wisdom  and  strength,  stretched 
forth  the  heavens,  knew  how  to  carry  on  his  work 
gloriously  and  rapidly  through  the  power  of  his 
Word.  Glory  be  to  His  excellent  name !  I  spent 
four  entire  years  in  the  itinerancy,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  very  short  time  I  needed  to  arrange  my 
temporal  affairs. 

In  company  with  Albright  I  traveled  in  sections 
of  country  entirely  unknown  to  me.  After  thus 
traveling  together  for  ten  days,  we  were  compelled 
to  separate,  and  I  went  on  alone  in  search  of  new 


GEORGE  MILLER. 


201 


appointments.  I  traveled  through  Dauphin  and 
Lancaster  Counties,  praying  in  secret  that  God 
might  give  me  souls,  several  times  not  knowing 
where  to  find  a  night's  lodging.  One  night  I  was 
received  nowhere,  and  was  compelled  to  let  my 
hungry  horse  run  into  a  field,  and  take  my  saddle 
for  a  bed. 

Once  I  stopped  with  a  man  by  the  name  of 
Lescher,  in  Lancaster  County,  where  I  was  kindly 
received.  In  the  evening  and  morning  I  prayed 
with  the  family,  and  as  I  bade  him  adieu,  he 
asked  me  whether  I  was  a  Methodist  preacher.  I 
told  him  I  was  no  Methodist.  But  you  are  a 
preacher,"  he  said,  and  to  what  denomination  do 
you  belong?"  "I  am  an  Evangelical,"  I  answered 
him,  ^'  and  preach  the  Gospel  to  all  men  who  will 
receive  and  hear  me."  "  Tell  me  the  truth,  are 
you  not  a  Methodist?"  he  continued.  I  answered, 
"  You  can  depend  upon  it."  "  Well,  then,  I  would 
like  to  hear  you  preach,  but  Methodists  I  will  not 
receive,  for  they  scream  too  loud,  but  perhaps  you 
preach  so  loud  too?  But  I  will  announce  a  meet- 
ing for  you,  then  we  can  hear,"  etc. 

A  meeting  was  appointed,  the  house  was  full  of 
people,  and  the  Lord  gave  me  grace  to  preach  the 
Word  among  them  with  feeling  and  solemnity,  so 
that  nearly  all  were  affected.  Lescher  requested 
a  meeting  the  second  time,  and  when  I  had 
preached  there  again,  others  requested  it  also,  and 


202 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


in  a  short  time  sinners  cried  to  the  Lord  for  salva- 
tion. When  Lescher  heard  the  noise  he  left  the 
meeting.  God,  however,  worked  mightily,  so  that 
many  turned  to  the  Lord,  and  afterwards  this  old 
man,  and  nearly  his  entire  family,  were  also  con- 
verted to  God. 

Near  Jonestown,  in  Dauphin  Co.  (now  Lebanon)  ^ 
many  were  saved  and  a  class  organized.  In  Fish- 
ing Creek  Valley  the  Lord  also  revived  his  work. 
I  likewise  preached  near  Linglestown,  though  not 
with  much  success.  The  mother  of  the  family  in 
whose  house  the  services  were  held,  opposed  the 
truth,  doing  all  she  could  to  prejudice  others,  so  I 
discontinued  the  appointment.  At  Michael  Beck- 
er's I  also  organized  a  class,  to  which  some  others; 
were  added  by  subsequent  conversions.  At  Hum- 
melstown  I  preached  in  the  house  of  a  wealthy 
man,  but  here  the  wife  also  opposed  the  truth  of 
the  Gospel  of  God.  I  also  preached  at  the  house 
of  W.  Schuy,  where  God  graciously  revived  his 
work.  At  this  place  I  once  asked  for  some  water 
to  wash  my  feet,  but  the  good  sister  insisted  uj)on 
washing  my  feet,  and  would  not  be  refused.  This 
1  think  is  the  proper  way  to  practice  feet-washing 
—  wash  them  for  each  other,  when  it  is  necessary, 
and  thus  imitate  the  example  of  Christ.  This  sister 
soon  afterwards  was  called  to  her  eternal  reward. 

In  Sherken's  meeting-house  I  had  Uttle  success. 
The  man  with  whom  I  lodged  had  a  large  bank 


GEORGE  MILLER. 


203 


barn  full  of  fodder,  and  yet  my  horse  was  allowed 
to  suffer,  and  was  hitched  under  the  shed  in  the 
front  of  the  barn ! 

I  j)reached  in  the  houses  of  a  few  families  near 
Lebanon,  but  I  had  no  revival.  Here  I  visited  a 
wealthy  man,  who  was  prostrated  by  sickness,  but 
I  found  him  in  a  miserablv  forsaken  condition,  for 
I  expected  that  impurity  and  vermin  would  soon 
devour  him.  I  thought,  if  this  man  was  poor  in 
worldly  possessions,  perhaps  after  all  the  dogs 
might  come  and  lick  his  sores,  but  he  had  raised 
his  family  in  avarice,  even  the  servant-girl  not 
excepted,  and  other  friends  did  not  care  to  come 
to  his  help  now,  and  if  they  had  done  it,  ingrati- 
tude would  have  been  their  reward.  Hence,  this 
passage  of  warning  to  the  rich  is  fulfilled,  namely : 
*  "  The  rich  must  perish  and  hunger^  but  they  that 
seek  the  Lord  shall  not  want  any  good  thing ^ — 
Psa.  34.  10. 

In  the  borough  of  Lebanon  I  preached  in  the 
market-place,  at  the  time  when  the  annual  fair 
was  held.  I  stepped  upon  the  floor  of  a  well  and 
cried  out  with  a  loud  voice :  "  Ye  men  and  people 
of  this  place,  come  here  and  listen  to  me,  I,  too, 
have  something  to  offer  for  sale ! "  I  did  not  call 
oftener  than  two  or  three  times,  until  a  whole 


*)  This  passage  reads  in  the  English  version  :  The  young  lions  do- 
lack,  ete. 


204 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


crowd  of  persons  surrounded  me  and  cried  out: 
^•Here!  here  is  a  prophet!"  but  saying  at  the 
same  time:  "Be  quiet,  that  we  may  hear  what  he 
has  to  say ! "  I  told  them  they  should  hear  me 
first,  and  ridicule  me  afterwards.  Meanwhile  I 
opened  my  Bible  and  asked  whether  they  knew 
what  was  meant  by  these  words:  "My  house  shall 
be  called  a  house  of  prayer,  hut  ye  have  turned  it 
into  a  den  of  thieves'' — Matt.  12.  11.  At  the 
beginning  I  did  not  know  myself  what  suitable  ap- 
plication to  make  of  the  text  under  the  circumstan- 
ces ;  but  God  led  me  so,  that  I  could  show  clearly, 
first,  the  fall  of  man,  and  then  the  decline  of  the 
Church,  and  with  marked  power  I  reproved  sin 
and  wickedness,  exhorting  them  to  true  evangeli- 
€al  repentance,  and  faith  in  Christ,  who  was  will- 
ing and  able  to  purify  the  temple  of  their  bodies, 
houses  and  Churches,  and  convert  them  into 
houses  of  prayer.  The  power  of  God  came  upon  me 
in  such  a  measure,  that  my  voice  became  as  pierc- 
ing as  a  sword,  and  in  consequence  brought  silence 
and  attention  among  those  present.  The  delusion 
to  see  and  hear  a  fool,  had  left  them,  and  they 
were  now  thinking  quite  differently.  Some  of 
them  had  stripped  and  pushed  into  the  crowed  to 
fight,  but  left  utterly  ashamed  of  themselves. 
Others  wanted  to  pump  Avater  from  the  well  upon 
wdiich  I  stood,  but  could  not  until  I  had  closed. 
-No  one  scoffed,  not  even  derisive  looks  could  be 


aEOKGE  MILLEB. 


205 


seen  upon  their  countenances,  but  they  made 
plenty  of  room  for  me,  moving  quietly  and 
gently  out  of  the  way.  Afterwards  I  learned  that 
much  good  was  wrought  through  that  sermon; 
many  of  the  hearers  returned  home  immediately, 
and  several  of  them  were  converted  to  God. 

During  this  year  I  also  preached  in  Berks. 
County,  and  most  of  the  time  I  realized  great  joy 
in  the  Lord,  and  with  my  brethren  praised  and 
glorified  God.  Vain,  worldly-minded  people  hated 
and  persecuted  me,  and  I  even  met  with  consider- 
able opposition  from  among  professors  who  could 
not  rejoice  in  the  truth,  but  became  displeased 
when  it  was  preached.  How  gladly  I  would  have 
instructed  them  in  the  way  of  salvation  had  they 
only  been  willing  to  receive  instruction.  This- 
often  troubled  me  and  disturbed  my  mind,  and  I 
asked  myself  whether,  perhaps,  I  was  not  to 
blame  that  so  many  professors  of  religion  became 
offended  at  my  preaching?  I  knew  very  well  that 
the  Pharisees  and  the  Jews  were  offended  at  Christ 
and  his  apostles,  and  that  these  same  persons  took 
offence  also  at  Albright  and  other  servants  of  God. 
But  this  could  not  satisfy  me,  until  I  knew  of  a 
certainty  that  it  was  pleasing  to  God  to  preach  as 
I  did.  On  this  account  I  prayed  often,  yea,  even 
with  tears,  that  God  might  forbid  that  I  should  be 
a  detriment  to  any  one  through  my  preaching,  and 
that  if  my  method  did  not  please  him,  he  would 


206 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


lead  me  differently.  But  the  more  I  prayed,  and 
the  more  fully  I  gave  myself  to  God,  the  more 
penetrating  and  searching  my  sermons  became,  so 
that  some  would  leave  during  the  services,  and 
others  would  take  still  greater  offence.  ^ 

Being  greatly  concerned  about  these  things,  I 
had  several  visions  concerning  them  in  my  dreams. 
At  one  time  I  dreamed  I  was  clothed  in  a  soldier's 
uniform,  having  a  sharp  sword  in  my  hand  with 
which  to  smite  my  enemies.  These  also  were 
fully  equipped  and  came  against  me;  however, 
when  the  combat  commenced  I  was  given  a  pair 
of  wings,  with  which  I  flew  above  them,  and 
beheaded  one  after  another,  and  others  I  threw 
upon  the  ground,  so  that  they  at  last  fled  in  con- 
fusion. I  then  went  and  set  the  heads  upon  the 
dead  and  prayed  with  them,  and  soon  they  revived 
again  and  became  my  friends,  aiding  me  in  over- 
€oming  my  enemies. 

*  By  this  and  other  paragraphs  in  this  life  sketch,  it  appears  plain- 
ly  that  Miller  was  a  preacher  who  exposed  the  sins  of  the  impenitent 
and  hypocrites,  wielding  the  Sword  of  the  Spirit  in  a  way  that  his 
hearers  were  pricked  to  the  heart.  It  was  his  endeavor  to  show  to  man 
his  deeply  fallen  condition,  to  reprove  his  sinful  life,  and  to  lead  the 
awakened  to  repentance  and  the  penitent  to  Christ.  His  sermons 
were  practical  and  Scriptural,  clear,  sharp  and  searching,  yet  also 
instructive  and  comforting,  and  the  Word  of  God  did  not  return  void. 
Upon  his  knees,  with  his  Bible  instead  of  sketch  books,  he  prepared 
his  sermons;  and  if  he  found  no  opportunity  to  do  this,  then  he  often 
wept  and  prayed  while  seated  upon  his  horse,  going  from  one 
appointment  to  another,  or  dismounted  and  prayed  in  the  woods  for 
the  salvation  of  souls. 

This  is  doing  the  work  of  an  Evangelical.  [R.  Y.] 


GEOBQE  MILLEE. 


207 


Soon  after  this  J.  N  and  I  held  a  union 

meeting.  I  was  to  preach  first,  and  the  Lord  was 
with  me.  D.  G.  exhorted  in  a  fervent  spirit.  J.  N. 
also  spoke  in  his  usual  mild  way,  and  closed  the 
meeting.  The  latter  I  esteemed  highly,  regarding 
him  as  a  good  and  experienced  preacher.  That 
night  J.  N.  and  I  slept  together,  and  I  dreamed 
that  I  had  been  nominated  as  a  candidate  for  the 
office  of  sheriff,  and  really  had  the  majority  of 
votes,  with  the  authorit}^  of  the  Governor  in  my 
hand,  and  at  the  same  time  written  orders  to 
arrest  the  criminals  and  violators  of  the  laws  of 
the  county;  a  house  was  also  shown  me,  where 
such  criminals  were  found,  but  when  I  got  in  I 
saw  J.  N.  and  other  preachers,  whom  I  knew, 
there,  and  hoped  they  would  aid  me  in  capturing 
the  criminals,  but  just  the  reverse  happened,  for 
they  all  opposed  my  authority,  and  tried  to  make  my 
certificate  null  and  void.  Yea,  they  even  concealed 
those  whom  I  was  to  capture.  Grieved  over  their 
conduct,  I  referred  to  my  authority,  and  threatened 
to  take  the  criminals  by  force,  but  as  soon  as  I 
undertook  this,  they  all  approached  me  with  clubs 
and  finives,  but  I  called  upon  the  Lord,  and  imme- 
diately I  received  wings,  with  which  I  ascended 
and  flew  back  and  forth  over  them  in  the  house, 
until  finally  the  noise  of  my  wings  frightened 
them,  and  they  all  retreated,  and  I  could  then 
capture  the  criminals.    I  ran  after  J.  N.,  and  said 


208 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


to  him  he  should  not  be  so  timid  and  rum  awaj, 
but  should  help  me.  I  labored  to  secure  a  horse  for 
him,  so  that  he  could  ride  with  me,  but  he  imme- 
diately sprang  upon  another  horse,  the  saddle  of 
which  was  old  and  had  a  pobr  girth,  and  in  a  full 
gallop  he  dashed  into  the  dark  thicket,  while  I  called 
after  him  as  loud  as  I  could :  "  For  God's  sake 
listen!  Stop,  you  will  fall,  you  will  fall  I  But 
he  rushed  on,  and  as  soon  as  he  got  to  the  bushes 
his  saddle  turned  and  he  fell  from  his  horse,  but 
whether  he  was  killed  or  only  hurt  I  cannot  tell^ 
for  I  could  see  him  no  longer  on  account  of  the 
bushes.  I  awoke,  and  was  astonished  at  this 
dream,  I  pondered  whether  it  was  not  my  duty  to 
relate  it  to  J.  N.  .  I  commenced  a  conversation 
with  him  about  the  work  of  the  Lord,  but  as  he 
withdrew  himself  from  me  with  a  short  reply^ 
thereby  showing  his  disinclination,  I  did  not  relate 
my  dream  to  him,  but  when  we  parted  I  warned 
him  mildly. 

These  things  afforded  me  much  joy  in  my  hearty 
and  gave  me  great  confidence  in  God,  without 
hypocrisy  to  preach  the  truth  of  the  Gospel  under 
all  circumstances,  persecutions  and  trials.  But 
even  all  these  things  did  not  give  me  the  positive 
assurance  that  God  called  me  to  the  office  of  the 
ministry;  for  I  did  not  wish  to  build  upon  visions 
and  dreams,  because  these  could  be  imagination 
without  reality,  for  without  a  clear  consciousness 


GEORGE  MILLER. 


20^ 


of  the  assurance  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  that  God  had 
called  and  anointed  me  to  this  service,  I  could  not 
satisfy  m}-self,  notwithstanding  while  preaching  I 
was  conscious  of  great  power,  success,  fearlessness; 
and  joy  in  the  Lord ;  but  I  did  not  have  the  cer- 
tain testimony  that  I  was  sent  by  God,  w^hich  I 
noticed  in  Albright  during  his  public  ministrations^ 
although  privately  he  said  nothing  about  it.  This 
constrained  me  to  appeal  to  God  with  more 
earnestness  for  this  grace  of  assurance.  I  prayed 
much  in  secret,  and  often  read  my  Bible,  jea,  for 
hours  I  lay  prostrate  before  God,  asking  for  the 
right  understanding  of  his  Word,  and  that  he 
might  qualify  me  to  lead  souls  to  him.  With  tears 
I  acknowledged  to  God  that  I  was  not  worthy  to 
be  an  instrument  in  his  hands,  and  if  he  regarded 
me  as  an  inefficient  laborer  in  his  vinej'ard,  he 
might  cause  his  mercy  to  become  great  in  others 
who  would  be  better  qualified  for  this  office  than 
I  was,  and  that  I  was  ready  to  cease  preaching,  or 
continue ;  but  if  he  had  called  me  thereto  he  should 
also  give  me  the  anointing  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and 
a  divine  assurance  that  I  was  called  to  this  office. 
I  also  sprayed  to  God  from  the  depth  of  my  heart 
for  the  conversion  of  sinners,  that  he  might  merci- 
fully regard  them  and  save  them  for  his  name's  sake. 

Through  such  persevering  prayer  the  Lord 
revealed  himself  more  and  more  to  my  soul,  so 

that  I  realized  greater  light  and  better  knowledge 
11 


210 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  ÖP 


of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  several  times  while 
preaching  I  realized  powerfully  the  influences  of 
grace,  the  Word  being  accompanied  with  special 
anointing,  so  that  involuntarily  I  frequently  used 
the  following  words :  '^TJie  Lord  hath  anointed  me, 
the  Lord  hath  sent  me. — L  beseech  you  in  Chrisfs 
•stead,  he  ye  reconciled  to  God. — /  hioio  you  loell;  are 
you  not  this  man^    Are  you  not  this  woman  ?"  etc. 

The  results  were,  that  the  love  and  grace  of  God 
were  poured  upon  me  and  the  congregation  in 
showers,  according  to  His  promise,  so  that  I  was 
constantly  strengthened  in  faith.  But  finally  it 
pleased  God,  while  I  was  preaching  from  the  words : 
^'L  am  the  light  of  the  world,  he  that  follow  eth  after 
me  shall  not  walk  in  darkness,  hut  shall  have  the 
light  of  life^^  (John  8.  12)  to  give  me  according 
to  his  promise  the  certainty  of  my  call  to  the  min- 
istry. In  truth  I  can  say  that  I  was  so  positively 
assured  that  God  called  me  to  the  ministry,  as  I 
was  certain  that  God  had  forgiven  my  sins.  Yes, 
if  God  had  permitted  it  to  have  been  written  into 
my  hands,  I  could  not  have  received  a  greater 
assurance,  yes,  I  knew  it  as  certainly  as  I  knew 
day  from  night! 

But  I  was  not  only  established  in  my  call,  I  was 
also  anointed  thereunto  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  so  that 
my  speech  flowed  like  oil,  and  the  glory  of  God 
ßhone  around  me.  I  stood  like  a  wall  against  all 
the  attacks  of  the  devil,  and  I  now  knew  of  a  truth 


aEOBQE  MILLEB. 


211 


that  I  did  not  run  of  mine  own  accord,  nor  preach 
mine  own  words,  but  the  word  of  the  Lord,  who 
had  anointed  and  sent  me  to  preach.  I  could  now 
unhesitatingly  and  with  joy  appeal  to  God,  as  the 
prophets  and  apostles  did :  "  The  Lord  hath  sent 
me  to  witness  unto  the  sufferings  and  resurrection 
Jesus  Christ,  and  the  glory  that  should  follow, 
and:  We  cannot  hut  sj)eak  the  things  which  toe 
have  seen  and  heard  ''  (Acts  4.  20.)  And  thus  I 
could  confidently  testify  to  my  brethren  in  Christ, 
that  they  would  be  saved,  if  they  proved  faithful 
and  were  obedient  to  the  truth.  Glory  and  praise 
be  unto  God  and  the  Father  of  all  our  mercies, 
that  he  did  not  permit  me  and  the  souls  entrusted 
to  my  care  to  walk  in  darkness,  but  in  the  light  of 
God,  so  that  we  were  assured  that  w^e  should  be 
saved  if  we  continued  in  the  grace  of  God  to  the 
end.  If  I  could  not  have  joyfully  testified  to  this 
truth  in  preaching,  and  both  by  word  and  deed 
under  all  our  trials  corroborated  this  fact,  I  would 
not  have  been  surprised  to  have  seen  those,  who 
held  to  our  doctrine,  fall  away,  because  they  would 
not  have  had  a  sure  foundation  for  the  hope  that 
was  in  them,  and  could  not  have  joyfully  witnessed 
for  the  truth.  * 


*)  Miller  and  the  Evangelical  fathers  were  none  of  those  who  beat 
'  the  air,  or  ran  or  in  uncertainty    They  not  only  sought  and  taught 
"  the  assurance  of  sonship  in  God's  family,  and  their  entire  sanctifica- 
tion,  but  also  most  emphatically  a  clear  evidence  of  the  divine  call  to 


212 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


'  From  this  time  forth  I  noticed  the  opposition  of 
wicked  men  but  very  little,  determining  to  cling 
to  Christ.  Soon,  however,  my  courage  and  faith 
in  God  was  put  to  a  severe  test,  coming  very 
nearly  costing  my  life. 

I  came  to  my  father-in-law,  where  I  met  Bro. 
Albright,  who  immediately  told  me  that  the  old 
man  was  very  much  displeased  with  me,  as  also 
with  Bro.  Walter,  because  the  latter  in  his  sermon 
accused  him  of  hypocrisy,  and  added,  that  under 
such  circumstances  discretion  would  be  very  neces- 
sary, but  requested,  nevertheless,  that  I  should 
preach.  I  told  him  that  the  man  was  very  wicked, 
and  I  could  not  preach  without  reproving  sin. 
Still  he  insisted  I  must  preach,  but  told  me  to  be 
discreet.  As  the  people  had  already  gathered,  I 
had  no  time  left  to  meditate  upon  an  appropriate 
text,  but  Albright  and  I  immediately  went  into 
the  room  where  the  services  were  to  be  held.  I 


tlie  ministry.  How  much  Miller  lon^red  for  it,  and  what  assurance  he 
received,  he  declares  himself  in  this  volume.  This  principle  was  also 
introduced  into  the  Discipline  in  the  first  question  at  the  ordination 
of  a  deacon:  "Have  you  the  confidence  that  you  are  inwardly  moved 
by  the  Holy  Ghost  to  take  upon  yourself  the  office  of  a  preacher,  thus 
to  serve  God  to  the  honor  of  his  name  and  to  the  upbuilding  of  his 
Church  ?"  Without  this  evidence  no  one  should  venture  to  take  upon 
himself  this  high  office.  Whom  God  wants  for  the  office,  him  will  he 
also  call  in  a  clear  manner,  so  that  he  knows  the  Lord  has  "  anointed 
and  sent  him." 

Such  only  will  God  own,  bless,  and  thereby  build  his  Church.  The 
diviiie  call  is  and  remains  the  authority  for  proclaiming  the  dwine  me»- 
tage.  [R.  Y.} 


GEOEGE  MILLER. 


213 


saw  that  the  countenance  of  my  father-m-law  had 
assumed  quite  an  unnatural  expression,  and  that 
he  had  his  sword-cane  standing  at  his  side. 
Albright,  as  well  as  the  people,  noticed  these 
things,  so  that  we  sighed  to  God  in  prayer.  Dur- 
ing the  opening  prayer  this  text  lodged  in  my 
mind :  I  am  the  light  of  the  world,"  and  I  con- 
cluded to  preach  from  it.  With  a  firm  trust  in 
God  for  his  help,  I  announced  the  words,  with  the 
assurance  that  the  Lord  would  make  it  manifest 
who  were  his  servants.  The  gracious  presence  of 
God  surrounded  me,  so  that  I  could,  without  fear 
of  man  and  with  great  liberty,  show  the  difference 
between  darkness  and  light,  and  the  unreasonable- 
ness of  such  as  lived  in  darkness  and  ignorance, 
and  who  were  engaged  in  the  works  of  darkness. 
And  on  the  other  hand  I  presented  Christ  in  all 
his  offices  as  the  true  light,  and  exhorted  them  to 
follow  this  true  light  by  a  true  conversion  and  a 
holy  life  and  self-denial,  through  reproach  and 
persecution.  I  showed  the  great  gain  of  such  as 
follow  the  lifj:ht;  that  "'thev  shall  not  walk  in 
darkness,  but  shall  have  the  light  of  life."  I  also 
applied  the  words  to  myself,  that  I  was  Christ's 
follower  and  had  the  assurance  that  I  was  enlight- 
ened through  the  light  of  life,  so  that  I  did  not 
walk  in  the  darkness  of  uncertainty,  but  was 
reaching  for  the  never-fading  crown  of  life;  upon 
which  the  praises  of  God  flowed  from  my  lips. 


214 


LIFE  AND  LABOES  OF 


Through  God's  gracious  power  I  could  witness  to 
the  truth  of  this  Gospel  as  never  before. 

My  enemies  were  thoroughly  defeated,  and  Bro. 
Albright  and  the  other  brethren  looked  upon  me 
with  approving  smiles.  Several  of  those  present 
cried  to  the  Lord  for  pardon,  others  were  blessed 
and  praised  God,  but  the  majority  were  amazed. 
An  aged  penitent  sinner  raised  his  head  and  said : 
"  It  does  no  one  any  good  who  wants  to  hinder  you 
in  preaching ! "  Whereupon  my  father-in-law  left 
us  and  went  into  another  room  with  his  sword. 

As  Albright  and  I  stepped  to  one  side,  he  said 
to  me:  And  now  I  am  positively  convinced  that 
God  has  called  you  to  preach.^'  But,  moved  by  a 
most  cordial  love,  with  tears  in  his  eyes  he  said  to 
me:  "Brother,  you  are  in  great  danger."  I  asked 
why?  "Did  you  not  notice,"  said  he,  "what  your 
relatives  intend  to  do?"  I  told  him  that  I  sur- 
mised it,  yet  I  did  not  believe  that  they  could 
harm  me.  He  said  he  believed  so  too,  but  I  might 
ere  long  be  put  to  a  severe  test,  and  he  advised  me 
not  to  preach  here  again,  for  it  might  easily  hap- 
pen that  my  father-in-law  would  become  angry 
and  seek  to  wreak  his  malice  upon  me,  and  cause 
much  trouble.  He  presented  to  me  the  example 
of  Cain  and  Abel;  and  what  counsel  Christ  at 
times  gave  his  disciples  to  avoid  malicious  persons, 
but  told  me  also  I  should  under  no  circumstances 
become  daunted,  for  the  devil  would  do  everything 


GEOEGE  MILLER. 


215 


that  lay  in  his  power  to  obstruct  the  work  of  the 
Lord,  and  that  I  should  cling  firmly  to  God's  grace 
by  fasting,  watchfulness  and  prayer.  I  promised 
to  accept  his  advice  and  to  obey  God,  but  did  not 
think  that  such  danger  as  he  predicted  was  so  close 
at  hand,  as  I  experienced  to  my  sorrow  a  few  weeks 
later. 

After  this  I  left  to  fill  my  appointments,  but 
Satan  also  followed,  and,  by  his  subtlety  and 
deceitfulness,  almost  overwhelmed  me.  During 
my  travels  I  was  led  to  think  of  the  weary  life  I 
was  compelled  to  lead  as  an  itinerant  minister ;  the 
future  presented  a  very  dark  picture;  I  wondered 
what  all  might  happen,  and  began  to  doubt 
whether  I  would  be  able  to  hold  out,  etc.,  until  my 
office  became  almost  an  unbearable  burden.  God 
permitted  Satan,  I  presume  for  wise  purposes,  to 
tempt  me  in  a  fearful  manner,  and,  neglecting  to 
lay  my  burdens  upon  him,  and  crjdng  unto  him 
for  strength,  they  became  too  great  for  me,  so  that 
I  began  to  fail  under  their  weight.  The  devil  no 
longer  questioned  my  call  to  the  ministry,  nor  my 
abihty  to  do  some  good,  but  that  I  lacked  the 
qualifications  to  give  meat  in  due  season  to  each, 
and  that  therefore  I  was  spending  my  time  and 
strength  for  nought.  In  this  way  Satan  tried  to 
make  me  unwilling  to  travel  and  preach,  so  that 
preaching  became  laborious,  and  finally  a  great 
burden.    At  times  my  mental  conflicts  became  so 


216 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


severe  that  great  drops  of  perspiration  covered  my 
body. 

At  another  time,  while  traveling,  I  was  over- 
taken with  such  great  weakness,  that  I  was  com- 
pelled to  dismount  from  my  horse  and,  as  it  were, 
sank  fainting  to  the  ground,  and  desired  to  die.  I 
was  now  also  entirely  undetermined  what  I  should 
do,  whether  to  continue  to  preach  or  return  home 
and  preach  as  much  as  my  business  would  allow. 
I  determined  to  give  my  brother  Solomon  my 
horse,  bridle  and  saddle,  besides  sixteen  dollars 
annually  for  support,  if  he  would  serve  in  my 
place  as  an  itinerant  preacher.  Many  times  I 
feared  and  trembled  and  thought  my  life  seemed 
to  be  safe  nowhere.  I  had  many  sleepless  nights 
and  great  disquietude  and  solicitude  in  my  heart. 
Once  as  I  was  sitting  near  the  fire,  I  thought  I  saw 
hell  open.  I  also  had  a  terrible  vision  in  a  dream 
of  the  miserable  condition  of  the  damned  in  hell, 
and  I  thought  I  still  heard  their  cries  of  lamenta^ 
tion  ringing  in  my  ears  when  I  awoke.  All 
struggles,  trials  and  persecutions,  which  I  had 
previously  endured,  were  insignificant  in  compari- 
son with  these  conflicts.  The  hundredth  part  of 
what  I  suffered  in  these  days  cannot  be  told. 
Albright,  no  doubt  directed  by  God,  traveled  across 
my  circuit,  and  paid  me  a  visit.  My  condition 
was  not  unknown  to  him,  for  it  seemed  to  me  as 
if  his  pleasant  gaze  entered  my  inmost  soul,  so  that 


GEORGE  MILLER. 


217 


I  could  not  refrain  from  tears.  You  intend/'  he 
said,  to  quit  preaching."  My  answer  was :  "Yes, 
I  am  nearly  persuaded  to  do  so,"  and  told  him 
further  that  preaching  had  become  such  a  heavy 
burden,  that  I  could  bear  it  no  longer.  He  smiled, 
and  replied:  "Come,  let  us  go  aside  and  let  us 
pray  together."  We  went  to  a  Avoods,  and  on  our 
way  thither  he  asked  me  whether  I  had  done 
wrong  in  anything?  I  replied:  "I  know  of  noth- 
ing I  have  done  that  is  not  right,  except  that  I  am 
unwilling  to  preach  any  longer,"  and  told  him  my 
severe  trials  as  well  as  I  could.  He  spoke  a  few 
words,  and  then  added :  You  must  not  gue  the 
Bible  over  into  Satan's  hands,  hut  hold  it  fast  and 
oppose  him  ivith  itT  We  then  knelt  down,  and  he 
prayed  very  earnestly,  and  soon  the  devil  was 
compelled  to  flee  from  me,  and  allow  me  to  use  the 
Word  of  God.  I  now  again  realized  that  God's 
Word  was  truly  on  my  side,  and  that  it  was  none 
of  the  devil's  business.  My  joy  was  so  great  that. 
I  praised  God  aloud,  not  being  able  to  restrain  my- 
self, because  through  one  prayer  of  faith  the  devil 
was  put  to  flight.  Albright  then  encouraged  me 
by  quoting  from  God's  Word,  namely,  that  the 
promise  was:  "  Thou  shalt  tread  iijjon  the  lion  and 
adder;  the  young  lion  and  the  dragon  shalt  thou 
trample  under  foot y — (Psa.  9.  13;  Mark  16.  18); 
and  that  if  I  lacked  wisdom  I  could  receive  it 
from  God  through  faith  and  earnest  prayer,  not 


218 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


only  to  bring  sinners  to  repentance  and  conversion, 
but  also  to  instruct  and  build  up  God's  people  in 
true  religion;  for  all  sufficiency  came  from  God, 
and  whosoever  would  seek  would  also  obtain  it  from 
God.  He  also  asked  me  whether  I  had  obtained 
the  grace  of  entire  sanctification.  I  answered  that 
I  could  not  say  that  I  had.  "  Then  you  cannot 
preach  sanctification  with  power,"  he  replied,  and 
exhorted  me  to  seek  this  grace  without  delay,  else 
I  could  not  stand  in  great  trials;  for  the  devil 
would  not  cease  his  attacks,  and  therefore  I  should 
seek  this  grace  in  order  to  overcome,  and  willingly 
and  with  thankfulness  accept  all  hardships  and 
crosses  as  coming  from  the  hand  of  the  Lord.  This 
sank  deeply  into  my  poor  heart,  and  with  tears  I 
besought  the  Lord  for  the  sanctification  of  my  soul, 
and  several  times  God's  grace  and  power  were 
poured  upon  me  in  such  a  manner  that  I  could 
thank  God  for  all  sufferings.  Yet  the  promotion 
of  this  work  was  for  a  time  interrupted,  because  I 
did  not  thoroughly  understand  the  deep  depravity 
of  the  human  soul.  I  longed  to  be  wholly 
delivered  from  all  evil  desires  and  affections,  and 
on  this  account  I  once  spent  nearly  a  whole  day 
in  agonizing  prayer,  and  thus  the  Lord  brought  me 
nearer  to  perfect  holiness,  so  that  I  could  confi- 
dently trust  in  God,  that  he  would  yet  bless  and 
anoint  me  in  such  a  measure  with  his  Holy  Spirit, 
that  through  him  I  could  overcome  the  devil, 


GEOEQE  MILLER. 


219 


world  and  sin.  Through  this  grace  I  learned  to 
know  that  all  adversities,  and  the  plots  of  my  ene- 
mies must  work  for  my  good  and  the  establishment 
in  the  truth  of  godliness. 

On  May  25th,  1806,  I  received  orders  from  Bro. 
Albright  to  travel  to  Buffiilo,  Penn's  Valley  and 
Morrison's  Cove,  to  serve  the  circuit  just  formed 
by  J.  Walter  and  others.  To  undertake  this  alone 
was  very  hard  for  me,  yet  I  resolved  to  be  obedient 
and  to  venture,  relying  upon  God's  help.  Albright 
advised  me  to  keep  a  diary,  in  which  to  record  all 
occurrences,  labors,  feelings,  temptations,  persecu- 
tions, etc.,  in  order  to  remind  myself  of  them  in 
times  of  severe  trials,  for  at  such  times,  aside  from 
the  Holy  Scriptures,  my  own  recorded  experience 
would  be  the  best  help,  through  which  I  could 
know  whether  I  was  still  in  the  right  path,  and 
more  especially  since  I  had  to  travel  alone. 

On  the  26th,  about  midnight,  I  arrived  at  home 
to  bid  adieu  to  my  family,  and  to  start  to  the  above 
mentioned  circuit.  The  next  morning  I  hesitated 
whether  I  should  defer  my  going  a  day.  or  not,  but 
at  the  same  time  I  felt  very  restless,  as  though 
danger  was  threatening  me.  About  noon,  while  I 
was  conversing  Avith  my  brother  Solomon,  my 
father-in-law  came  riding  along,  and  being  consid- 
erably excited,  he  said :  "  You  idler,  why  do  you 
not  build  S.  L's.  sawmill?  I  will  bring  you  to 
your  senses  yet,  you  lazy  fellow  —  I'll  take  every- 


220 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


thing  you  have  from  you  yet,  and  chase  you  to  the 
d — 1 ! "  But  as  I  gave  him  my  reasons  for  my 
conduct,  he  urged  his  horse  towards  me  to  trample 
me  under  foot.  I  leaned  against  the  side  of  the 
house  and  screamed,  upon  which  he  left  and  rode 
on,  so  that  I  only  received  a  slight  wound  on  my 
arm.  My  wife  and  children  hastened  to  me  and 
wept  aloud  —  I  also  wept,  but  got  ready  to  leave 
at  once,  bidding  them  farewell,  and  traveled  yet 
twelve  miles  to  B.  B.,  and  remained  there  all 
night.  Here  before  morning  my  saddle  was  cut 
in  three  places  through  the  entire  seat. 

On  the  31st  I  arrived  at  a  ^'big  meeting"  of  the 
United  Brethren,  near  Lancaster,  but  was  not 
invited  to  speak,  there  being  many  preachers  pres- 
ent. I  was  glad  for  an  opportunity  to  become 
better  acquainted  with  these  people. 

On  June  2d  I  had  my  saddle  repaired,  and  after- 
wards rode  to  Michael  Becker's,  in  Dauphin 
County,  where  an  appointment  had  been  announced 
for  me.  But,  on  the  way  I  had  a  severe  struggle, 
for  at  the  harnessmaker's  I  felt  somewhat  ashamed 
on  account  of  my  cut-up  saddle,  and  the  suggestion 
came  to  me,  "Here  you  can  see  that  you  are  no 
servant  of  God,  and  that  he  does  not  want  you  for 
a  preacher,  for  your  persecutions  are  too  out- 
rageous," etc.  I  often  dismounted  from  my  horse 
and  prayed  in  the  woods,  and  also  triumphed  over 
the  temptation,  but  through  this  I  was  prevented 


GEORGE  MILLER. 


221 


from  studying  a  text,  and  in  addition  I  lost  the 
road,  and  did  not  reach  the  place  until  after  it  was 
dark.  I  heard  the  people  sing,  and  while  I  was 
getting  off  my  horse,  I  said :  "  Loi'd  Jesus,  tohat 
shall  I  preach  ?  "  and  suddenly  these  words  rushed 
to  my  mind:  ^' The  just  shall  live  hy  faiths  (Rom. 
1.  17.) 

I  took  these  words  for  a  text,  and  God  worked 
with  great  power,  the  like  of  which  I  had  never 
seen  before.  Several  sinners  fell  upon  their  knees 
and  cried  for  mercy.  To  a  woman,  whose  heart 
was  melted,  I  said,  "You  must  pray  for  mercy." 
She  fell  upon  her  knees  and  called  upon  God,  and 
in  a  short  time  received  the  pardon  of  her  sins. 
God's  blessing  and  grace  were  poured  out  upon  his 
people,  so  that  they  seemed  to  be  of  one  heart  and 
of  one  mind,  and  shouted  for  great  joy,  sang,  leaped 
and  praised  God.  Thanks  be  unto  God!  I  know 
of  a  certainty  that  the  just  shall  live  hjj  faith.  I 
now  bade  farewell  to  the  friends,  and  in  two  days 
reached  my  circuit  in  Buffalo  Valley,  with  great 
grace  and  much  comfort  in  my  heart.  I  had  been 
on  the  circuit  before,  and  hence  was  well 
acquainted  with  its  spiritual  condition.  I  resolved, 
therefore,  to  besrin  the  work  with  fastinor  and 
prayer,  and  by  the  assistance  of  God,  and  without 
hypocrisy  to  teach  the  truth  of  the  Gospel,  even 
though  I  should  not  gain  the  favor  of  any  person, 
only  so  that  God  would  be  satisfied  with  me.  Con- 


222 


LIFE  AND  LABOES  OF 


sequentlj  I  prayed  often  on  my  travels  from  one 
appointment  to  another,  that  I  might  please  God 
and  be  useful  to  my  fellow  men.  And  to  the 
praise  of  his  name  I  dare  say  that  I  have  not 
labored  in  vain,  for  I  often  preached  with  much 
grace  and  divine  power. 

My  circuit  was  so  large,  that  I  could  travel  over 
it  but  once  in  four  weeks,  and  hence  many  good 
impressions  died  away,  so  that,  in  a  measure,  I 
was  compelled  always  to  begin  anew.  I  also  per- 
ceived that  it  was  much  better  to  drop  a  part  of 
my  circuit,  and  limit  it  to  two  wrecks — hence  only 
to  travel  Buffalo,  Penn's  and  Middle  Creek  Valleys. 
Though  I  did  this  very  reluctantly,  yet  I  saw  no 
other  way,  if  my  labor  should  not  be  lost.  And 
thus  I  gave  a  part  of  the  work  over  to  Providence, 
and  traveled  the  other  part  with  renewed  earnest- 
ness, and  the  Lord  blessed  his  Word,  so  that  soon 
many  souls  were  converted  to  God. 

At  Michael  Maize's  I  had  a  preaching  place,  and 
we  soon  had  regular  services  in  the  class,  also 
much  comfort  and  joy  in  the  Lord,  yet  under 
severe  persecution.  In  Eyer's  neighborhood  the 
Lord  wrought  repentance,  but  at  times  I  almost 
despaired  for  the  family,  it  seemed  as  though  they 
wanted  to  perish  in  their  own  righteousness.  But 
God  so  led  me,  that  I  again  received  new  courage 
to  preach  the  Word  to  them.  I  often  preached 
with  energy  against  the  love  of  the  world  and  self- 


GEORGE  MILLEE. 


223 


righteousness,  so  that  they  might  realize  their  sin- 
fuhiess  as  worth}'  of  punishment.  At  first  they 
\vere  offended,  but,  through  the  grace  of  God,  most 
of  them  became  true  Christians,  and  other  persons 
in  the  neighborhood  were  also  saved. 

At  Martin  Dreisbach's  I  preached  with  great 
•earnestness  against  the  love  and  honor  of  the 
world  and  the  deceptions  of  sin,  by  which,  in  a 
short  time,  I  drove  away  the  whole  mass  of  the 
self-deceived,  and  the  family  was  all  that  was  left 
for  me  to  instruct,  whom  God  ere  long  blessed  with 
true  repentance  and  faith.  One  of  those  deceived 
ones,  however,  I  could  not  drive  away  through 
preaching.  He  tormented  the  family  and  me  with 
such  bewitching  talk,  that  even  the  devil  himself 
in  person  could  not  have  accomplished  more.  On 
June  2 2d,  as  this  wicked  person  strove  again  with 
might  against  me,  and  uttered  blasphemy  against 
God's  work,  I  called  upon  the  Lord  for  assistance, 
in  order  to  confound  this  man's  device,  and  as  he 
was  in  great  rage,  the  power  of  God  came  upon 
me,  and  I  threatened  him  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord,  whereupon  he  immediately  yielded,  became 
frightened  and  fled,  so  that  for  some  time  we 
had  no  opposition  from  him.  At  this  the 
family  were  greatly  astonished,  and  now  com- 
menced to  seek  God  in  secret.  My  soul  real- 
ized the  comfort  and  nearness  of  the  Lord  in  a 
greater  measure  than  ever  before,  so  that  in  the 


224 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


evening  I  could  pray  with  the  family  with  great 
liberty. 

In  White  Deer  I  preached  at  H.  S's.  The  peo- 
ple seemed  to  be  blessed,  but  besides  this  there  was 
little  stir.  I  exhorted  them  to  seek  salvation  with 
all  earnestness  in  order  to  live  blameless  before- 
God  and  man. 

In  Penn's  Valley  I  preached  at  Riem's,  near  the 
town  of  Muehlheira,  but  as  God  wrought  conver- 
sion, it  displeased  the  aged  gentleman,  and  he  pro- 
hibited further  preaching  in  his  house.  But  a  man 
bv  the  name  of  Bachman  received  me,  and  I 
preached  with  great  grace,  so  that  many  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Muehlheim  were  affected,  and  sev- 
eral of  them  were  converted  to  God,  and  I  was 
able  to  organize  a  class  there. 

In  Middle  Creek  Valley  I  preached  at  John 
Thomas'.  Here  I  earnestlv  testified  a^rainst  all 
frivolity,  at  which  my  hearers  were  displeased,  3-et 
I  continued  until  the  Lord  had  subdued  their  hard 
hearts.  During  harvest,  as  their  wantonness  had 
reached  the  highest  degree,  I  preached  from  the 
words:  ''The  Lord  he  tvith  your  (Ruth  2.  4.)  I 
laid  the  question  before  them  for  an  answer, 
whether  the  Lord  or  the  devil  was  with  them  and 
controlled  them  in  the  harvest  field.  Many  of 
them  realized  their  sins,  and  wept  over  them. 
"When  I  saw  that  they  had  become  a  little  more 
tender,  I  held  a  class-meeting  with  them,  and  tried 


GEORGE  MILLER. 


225 


to  show  them  that  they  must  advance  in  the  work 
which  had  been  commenced,  or  they  would  be 
damned  in  the  end.  This  produced  repentance 
and  prayer  with  some,  and  with  others  opposition 
and  anger;  however,  I  continued  to  pray  for  them^ 
as  I  was  greatly  concerned  about  their  salvation. 
In  the  beginning  of  October  I  preached  here  from 
the  text :  "  For  as  many  as  are  led  b}'  the  Spirit  of 
God,  they  are  the  sons  of  God."  (Rom.  8.  14.) 
God  so  powerfully  blessed  the  Word  that  nearly 
all  present  began  to  cry  out  for  mercy,  and  so  loud 
were  their  cries  that  finally  I  could  not  hear  my 
own  voice.  It  was  remarkable  that  the  majority 
of  those  people  who  were  thus  calling  upon  God 
upon  their  knees  had  never  seen  or  heard  any  one 
pray  in  this  manner.  The  Lord,  who  knows  how 
to  carry  on  his  own  work,  be  praised !  This  man- 
ifestation of  God's  gracious  power  greatly  increased 
my  faith.  When  I  came  on  my  next  round  some 
of  them  had  already  found  God  to  be  a  reconciled 
Father.  I  organized  a  class,  and  the  Lord  added 
his  blessing. 

In  Swinefordstown  and  Selin's  Grove  I  preached 
on  the  streets,  and  in  this  way  was  received  into 
some  families,  but  met  with  but  little  success. 

In  Derrstown  (now  Lewisburg)  I  wanted  to 

preach  on  the  street,  but  Mr.  Wolf  and  some 

others  opened  their  houses.    There  was  some  stir, 

and  there  were  also  some  conversioiLs  in  the  place. 
15 


226 


LIPE  AND  LABOES  OF 


In  Youngm  ans  town  I  preached  in  a  meeting- 
house, but  with  very  little  success. 

On  October  25tli  we  appointed  a  "big  meeting" 
:at  Martin  Dreisbach's.  I  expected  that  the  peni- 
tents and  newly  converted,  about  forty  in  number, 
whom  I  had  organized  into  classes,  would  be 
present  at  this  meeting.  I  prayed  much  that  the 
Lord  might  send  the  Brethren  Albright  and 
Walter  to  this  meeting,  endowed  with  divine 
power,  to  edify  these  people.  On  the  appointed 
day  both  the  preachers  and  members  were  present, 
and  also  many  seekers.  My  feelings  cannot  be 
described,  for  I  was  both  sad  and  yet  rejoiced.  I 
experienced  the  truth  of  the  promise :  "  Blessed 
are  they  that  mourn,  for  they  shall  he  comforted^ 
I  mourned  with  the  penitents,  and  yet  I  rejoiced 
in  view  of  the  consolations  of  the  grace  of  God.  I 
was  appointed  to  preach  the  first  sermon.  During 
preaching  the  power  of  God  came  upon  the  people, 
so  that  many  fell  upon  their  knees  and  cried  out 
for  mercy.  Albright  and  Walter  preached  with 
great  power  and  great  plainness,  so  that  finally 
the  congregation  was  visited  with  a  powerful  out- 
pouring of  the  Spirit  of  God,  and  sinners  could  be 
heard  calling  upon  God  in  every  room  of  the  house. 
In  all  parts  of  the  house  there  w^as  also  heard  the 
voice  of  thanksgiving  and  praise,  for  there  was 
great  joy  among  the  brethren. 

On   the   27th  Albright,  Walter   and  myself 


GEOEGE  MILLER. 


227 


renewed  our  covenant  with  God  to  carry  on  his 
work  with  still  ereater  earnestness.  Albright 
admonished  and  encouraged  us  to  continue  our 
work  courageously  and  fearlessly,  and  lead  as 
many  sinners  to  Christ  as  possible.  * 

Soon  after  this  "big  meeting"  a  general  revival 
broke  out  on  my  circuit,  and  no  opposition  of  man 
could  hinder  it.  so  that  after  two  months  there 
were  already  over  eighty  newly  converted  persons 
within  my  borders.  The  Lord  had  also  given  me 
some  co-laborers,  who  exhorted  very  fervently  and 
in  the  power  of  God,  and  many  houses  were  opened 
for  holding  divine  service.  God  had  so  blessed  me 
with  faith-power,  that  if  I  prayed  with  penitents 
they  sank  to  the  lioor.  and  for  hours  lay  in  an 
apparently  unconscious  condition.  Such  things  I 
had  previously  seen  in  the  meetings  of  Methodists, 
and  although  I  believed  that  these  things  were 
wrought  by  the  power  of  God,  still  I  had  no  simi- 
lar experience  of  my  own ;  however,  one  evening. 


*  How  solemn  and  blessed  were  the  gatherings  of  these  servants 
of  God  :  But  how  excellent  also  and  how  remarkable  was  their  writ- 
ten contract  to  "  prosecute  the  work  of  the  Lord  with  still  greater 
earnestness,"  although  they  had  hitherto  entirely  consecrated  them- 
selves to  it !  What  an  example  for  Evangelical  ministers  at  their 
assemblies  :  — If  at  quarterly  meetings,  camp-meetings  and  annual 
conferences  ministers  would  likewise  solemnly  unite  to  prosecute 
•God's  work,  who  could  calculate  the  blessed  results  that  would  spring 
from  them.  And  should  not  the  gatherings  of  ministers  always  tend 
to  that?  Should  not  business  matters  be  side  issues  onlv  ? 

'     [K.  Y.] 


228 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


while  engaged  in  prayer,  consecrating  myself 
wholly  to  God,  to  be  used  by  him  in  accordance 
with  his  will,  I  experienced  this  power  in  my  own 
soul.  I  fell,  as  it  were,  into  a  sweet  slumber, 
enjoying  inexpressible  happiness  and  a  realizing 
sense  of  quietness  and  assurance,  and  being  filled 
with  the  love  of  God.  This  extraordinary  out- 
pouring of  divine  grace  was  an  effective  means  in 
the  providence  of  God  of  increasing  my  confidence 
in  God,  and  my  willingness  to  obey  him  in  all 
things. 

In  December  I  held  several  "  big  meetings "  in 
Berks  County,  where  we  experienced  the  same 
manifestations  of  the  power  of  God,  so  that  I  could 
preach  the  Word  with  great  joy  and  liberty, 
although  I  was  called  upon  to  pass  through  much 
suffering.  I  was  sick,  my  eyes  were  very  weak,  I 
sustained  great  losses  on  my  horses,  and  had  other 
temporal  difficulties,  on  account  of  which  I  often 
was  compelled  to  go  to  God  in  prayer,  but  always 
found  great  consolation.  About  this  time  I  spent 
several  days  in  Albright's  company,  and  of  course 
told  him  all  about  my  troubles  and  trials.  He 
replied:  "Your  sufferings  are  severe,  but  it  is 
somewhat  your  own  fault,  that  they  seem  so  bur- 
densome and  you  feel  so  depressed,  as  you  are 
unwilling  to  bow  submissively  to  God,  and  as  long 
as  you  continue  in  this  frame  of  mind,  God  will 
work  no  change  in  your  condition.    For  if  you 


GEORGE  MILLER. 


229 


were  entirely  sanctified  from  all  these  weaknesses, 
and  you  would  steadfastly  continue  therein,  you 
would  not  only  not  complain  about  your  sufferings, 
but  you  would  be  satisfied  and  contented  with  the 
dealings  of  God  with  you,  and  praise  him  even  for 
all  things."  In  this  way  he  pressed  the  duty  of 
yielding  wholly  to  God,  to  be  content  with  my  lot, 
and  earnestly  to  follow  after  holiness,  in  order  to 
be  able  to  endure  temptation.  This  exhortation 
imj^ressed  me  very  deeply,  so  that  on  our  journey 
to  a  meeting,  a  distance  of  thirty  miles,  I  spent 
most  of  the  time  in  weeping,  and  in  the  evening  I 
wrestled  about  an  hour  in  prayer,  until  I  Avas 
finally  overwhelmed  with  a  mighty  stream  of  love, 
that  I  could  most  devoutly  love,  praise  and  adore 
God  for  all  trials  and  sufferings,  yes,  I  could  love 
my  bitterest  enemies  and  persecutors,  and  thank 
God  that  he  chastised  me  in  so  many  different 
ways,  that  I  mii^ht  not  be  damned  with  a  wicked 
world.  I  positively  knew  that  all  things  must 
work  together  for  my  good,  and  I  now  felt  perfectly 
willing  to  kiss  the  rod,  and  to  walk  before  God  in 
childlike  confidence.  Praise,  honor  and  glory  be 
unto  thee,  my  Father  and  my  God!  Oh,  that 
I  might  eternally  thank  Him  for  it ! 

From  this  time  on  I  could  talk  and  preach  more 
clearly  upon  the  subject  of  sanctification,  but  did 
not  have  sufficient  confidence  in  myself  to  make  a 
public  profession  that  I  had  experienced  it,  until 


230 


LIPE  AND  LABORS  OP 


at  several  "big  meetings"  and  at  a  conference-^ 
where  God  powerfully  supported  me  with  his 
assistance,  the  work  Avas  tested. 

The  Avork  of  the  Lord  increased  continually 
upon  my  circuit.  Through  the  grace  of  God 
nearly  the  entire  family  of  Martin  Dreisbach  were 
converted,  among  whom  was  their  son  John,  whoy 
together  with  several  others,  was  afterwards  called 
into  the  ministry.  Here  I  organized  a  class,  and 
the  Lord  gave  them  great  joy  and  comfort,  in 
edifying  one  another. 

In  Millheim,  in  Penn's  Valley,  many  were  added 
to  the  Lord,  so  that  the  class  increased  very  rapid- 
ly.  Among  them  was  Matthew  Betz,  whom  the 
Lord  also  sent  forth  as  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  of 
God,  and  who  was  the  means  of  bringing  many  to 
repentance.  He  continued  his  work  upon  the 
walls  of  Zion  as  a  faithful  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ 
until  the  Lord  called  him  to  his  reward  and  rest. 

In  Brush  Valley  God  also  gave  the  increase,  sa 
that  sinners  were  saved,  and  a  class  could  be 
organized. 

In  Middle  Creek  Valley  I  organized  a  class  of 
more  than  thirty  members,  for  the  Lord  sent  sal- 


*  From  this  and  other  paragraphs  it  is  very  evident  how  earnestly 
the  sainted  Albright  exhorted  his  ministers  to  follow  after  lioliness^ 
and  how  intensely  G.  Miller  sought  this  grace,  until  the  word  of 
promise  was  fulfilled  in  him:  "Seek,  and  ye  shall  find."  Such  press- 
ing after  holiness,  and  such  an  experience  of  it,  is  very  necessary,  as 
well  as  evangelically  Scriptural.  [R,  Y.l 


GEORGE  MILLER. 


231 


vation  in  a  wonderful  manner,  to  both  parents  and 
children.  The  parents  came  to  the  ''big  meeting 
at  Dreisbach's,  and  while  they  were  engaged  in 
prayer,  the  converting  power  of  God  came  upon 
their  children  at  home,  so  that  they  leaped  for  joy, 
sang  and  praised  God.  When  the  parents  returned 
and  saw  the  grace  of  God,  great  joy  ensued,  and 
they  praised  God  with  all  their  might,  for  the 
promise  given  to  them  and  to  their  children  had 
been  fulfilled.  In  our  meetings  God's  power  was 
so  strikingly  manifested  that  no  one  was  able  to 
stand  up  for  any  length  of  time,  but  all  became  sa 
affected  that  they  sank  to  the  floor.  I  had  never 
seen  it  on  this  wise  before.  However,  I  soon  began 
to  notice  that  the  devil,  the  adversary  and  enemy 
of  all  good,  tried  to  injure  the  good  work  through 
his  craftiness  by  the  introduction  of  some  things 
that  were  insincere  and  inconsistent.  The  mem- 
bers became  so  boisterous,  even  during  the  opening 
prayer,  that  the  preacher  could  not  be  heard,  and 
made  use  of  many  unbecoming  expressions,  so  that 
neither  they  nor  any  one  else  received  any  benefit 
from  the  prayer  ofiered  by  the  minister.  I  tried 
to  point  out  to  them  the  inconsistency  of  this  cus- 
tom; that  if  they  desired  to  be  edified  by  the 
prayer  of  the  minister,  it  must  be  heard,  and  that 
others  who  were  present  should  also  be  edified ; 
still,  they  paid  no  attention  to  my  exhortation,  and 
even  on  several  occasions  they  became  still  louder^ 


232 


LIPE  AND  LABOES  OF 


SO  that  not  only  the  prayer,  but  also  the  sermon 
€ould  not  be  heard.  I  was  greatly  grieved  by 
their  conduct,  but  said  no  more  just  then;  how- 
ever, I  prayed  much  in  secret  for  them,  that  the 
Lord  might  teach  them  through  his  Spirit,  that 
they  might  be  instructed  and  edified  in  true  relig- 
ion. At  this  time,  when  I  prayed  so  much  in 
secret  for  them,  they  held  a  prayer-meeting,  where 
they  exercised  according  to  their  custom,  but 
suddenly  they  were  overtaken  with  terror  and 
fear,  and  in  their  fright  they  cried  out  in  amaze- 
ment: "0  God,  if  only  Brother  Miller  was  here 
now,  we  would  gladly  be  obedient  in  that  which 
lie  would  teach  us!"  When  I  came  to  them 
again,  they  related  it  to  me,  but  I  gave  them 
only  a  short  answer,  and  again  I  went  and  prayed 
in  secret,  and  asked  God  to  give  me  light,  grace 
and  insight  to  instruct  them  in  the  right  way,  then 
the  following  words  rushed  to  my  mind,  which  I 
also  chose  for  my  text,  viz :  Wherefore  we 
receiving  a  kingdom  which  cannot  he  moved^  let  us 
have  grace,  whereby  we  may  serve  God  acce])tahly 
with  reverence  and  godly  fear T  Heb.  12.  28.  Dur- 
ing the  sermon  they  were  very  attentive,  so  that 
the  Word  and  the  Spirit  made  deep  impressions. 
At  the  conclusion  of  the  sermon  the  manifestation 
of  the  power  of  God  became  quite  general,  but 
instead  of  disorder  and  confusion,  there  was 
.solemnity  and  power,  followed  by  shouts  and 


GEORGE  MILLER. 


233 


praises  unto  God.  I  recognized  in  these  things  an 
answer  to  my  prayers,  and  thanked  God  for  his 
goodness.  Henceforth  this  society  was  obedient, 
and  several  of  them  soon  afterwards  experienced 
the  grace  of  entire  sanctification,  and  hence  were 
better  qualified  to  overcome  the  attacks  of  the  evil 
one.  They  now  prospered  temporally  as  well  as 
spiritually.  Oh,  that  they  might  never  forget 
what  the  Lord  has  done  for  their  souls,  so  that 
they  may  not  fall  away  and  again  mind  earthly 
things ! 

In  the  neighborhood  of  Beaver's  Dam  the  Lord 
worked  mightily,  especially  did  he  bless  a  sermon 
preached  on  the  parable  of  the  sower,  so  that  much 
good  was  done. 

At  Maize's  and  Eyer's  God  also  greatly  blessed 
me  in  preaching,  so  that  the  number  of  believers 
multiplied  continually.  This  was  the  home  of 
Henry  Niebel,  who  was  afterwards  called  of  God 
to  the  ministry,  and  who  often  comforted  me.  In 
Lewisburg  also  we  had  conversions,  and  I  formed 
a  small  class  there. 

Upon  the  whole  the  Lord  richly  blessed  my 
labors  on  this  circuit,  so  that  in  the  beginning  of 
the  year  1807,  there  were  more  than  one  hundred 
converted  persons  united  in  classes  to  serve  God 
with  earnestness,  and  save  their  souls.  I  now 
endeavored  diligently  to  bring  my  brethren  and 
sisters  to  the  experience  of  deliverance  from  all 


234 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


sin,  SO  as  to  be  able  to  reign  and  triumph  over  all 
evil,  both  inwardly  and  outwardly;  especially  all 
slandering  and  unchristian  conduct  towards  each 
other,  and  that  they  should  esteem,  exhort  and 
reprove  one  another  in  love,  so  that  the  God  of 
peace  would  be  with  them.  I  also  exhorted  them 
to  think  of  their  teachers,  to  pray  for  them,  and  to 
support  them  with  their  temporal  means,  so  that 
they  might  discharge  their  duties  with  joy  and 
not  with  sorrow,  for  this  would  not  be  good  for 
them.  I  heartily  loved  my  brethren,  but  still 
more  fervently  did  I  love  my  God,  who  had  not 
only  chosen  unworthy  me  to  be  his  child,  but  also 
to  be  a  co-laborer  in  his  Church.  And  although  I 
reckon  myself  as  the  least  among  his  servants,  yet 
my  labor  in  the  Lord  was  not  in  vain.  But  all 
the  good  that  was  accomplished,  was  done  through 
His  grace,  for  His  strength  is  made  perfect  in  weak- 
ness ;  therefore  I  must  not  boast  of  myself,  but  of 
the  Lord,  and  I  will  gladly  say:  Lord.^  I  am 
thy  unworthy  servant;  for  I  have  only  done 
my  duty,  therefore  I  expect  to  be  saved  alone 
through  the  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ ! 

The  persecution  upon  my  circuit  was  not  special- 
ly great.  It  consisted  mostly  in  slanderous  talk,  lies, 
calumnies  and  scoffing.  But  our  regulations  and 
union,  as  an  Association  to  work  out  our  soul's 
salvation,  of  course,  w«ns  everywhere  spoken 
against  by  nominal  Christians,  as  well  as  by  Deists 


GEOEGE  MILLER. 


235 


and  Atheists.  Even  some  fair-minded  men  had 
been  j)rejudiced  against  us,  and  passed  unjust 
^judgment  upon  us.  However,  among  the  members 
of  the  Church  there  was  unity  both  in  word  and 
action.  Oh^  that  they  might  continue  thus  unto 
the  end! 


-236 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


PART  THIRD. 


The  First  Annual  Conference  is  held.  — Albright  is  to  compile  a 
Discipline^  which  remains  unfinished  on  account  of  his 
early  death. — The  joy  of  the  wicked  over  his  death. — 
Miller  undertakes  the  compilation  of  the  Discipline ;  his 
severe  trials,  sufferings,  and  his  steadfast  confidence  in 
God. —  Writes  his  Autobiography. 

JN  January,  1807,  I  was  appointed   by  Bro. 

Albright  to  Lancaster  circuit,  and  Bro.  Walter 
took  my  place.  Though  I  left  my  circuit  very 
reluctantly,  duty  demanded  of  me  to  obey  those 
who  were  placed  over  me  in  office.  But  circum- 
stances also  required  that  I  should  not  travel  so 
long  on  one  appointed  field;  for  this  reason  I  was 
sent  back  again  after  a  few  months,  endowed  with 
power  from  on  high,  and  filled  with  the  blessing  of 
the  Gospel. 

In  a  certain  locality,  where  the  devil  had 
destroyed  nearly  all  good  that  had  been  done,  I 
preached  and  presented  to  professors  their  danger- 
ous condition,  but  pointed  out  also  the  good  that 
was  still  among  them,  and  in  this  way  tried  to 
encourage  them  to  serve  God  more  earnestly. 
Finding  that  they  had  confidence  in  me,  I  prepared 
-myself  through  prayer  to  win  them  by  God's  grace, 


GEORGE  MILLER, 


237 


and  chose  the  words  of  the  Lord  for  my  text:: 
"How  often  ivoulcl  I  have  gathered  thy  children 
together^  even  as  a  hen  gathereth  her  chickens  under 
her  tvings,  and  ye  ivould  not!''  (Matt.  23.  37.)^ 
God  blessed  the  Word,  so  that  on  the  same 
evening  six  persons  were  reclaimed,  and  again 
served  God  with  earnestness  of  soul.  Blessed  be 
God,  the  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  that  he 
here  also  persuaded  the  backsliders  to  return 
again. 

I  also  preached  in  Manorland,  Lancaster  County, 
realizing  the  blessing  of  God,  so  that,  notwithstand- 
ing the  opposition  of  such  as  under  the  mask  of 
unsectarianism,  protested  against  rules  and  order,, 
a  strong  society  was  organized.  Here  Bro.  John 
Erb  was  induced,  by  the  grace  of  God,  to  start  out 
as  an  itinerant  preacher,  and  also  often  strength- 
ened my  heart.    May  God  reward  him ! 

In  Berks  County,  at  Muehlbach  (now  Lebanon 
County),  the  Lord  wrought  mightily  in  the  con- 
version of  many  during  this  year.  Through  God's: 
grace  we  also  held  our  first  annual  Conference 
here,  and  were  greatly  blessed  during  the  proceed- 
ings. 

Bro.  Albright  was  elected  Bishop  of  the  Associ- 
ation, and  the  Conference  voted  that  I  should  be 
ordained  Elder.  This  gave  me  new  cause  to  hum- 
ble myself  with  all  my  heart  before  God,  to- 
beseech  him  for  the  anointing  and  the  power  of 


238 


LIFE  AND  LABOES  OF 


the  Holy  Ghost,  in  order  faithfully  to  discharge 
my  important  duties. 

The  Conference  recognized  the  necessity  of  hav- 
ing a  Church  Discipline,  and  upon  Bro.  Albright's 
advice  the  Episcopal  form  of  Church  government 
was  adopted,  and  we  chose  him  to  compile  it,  and 
have  it  published.  But  the  Lord  wanted  to  release 
him  from  his  labors  and  toils,  and  through  death 
took  him  into  a  better  life,  where  he  now  rests 
from  his  toil,  and  enjoys  the  fruit  of  his  labors. 

The  death  of  this  pious  man  was  felt  by  the 
entire  Association,  and  many  hearts  most  keenly 
realized  his  early  departure,  more  especially  the 
ministers.  But  our  enemies  greatly  rejoiced  that 
they  were  rid  of  the  man  who  used  such  a  keen 
edged  sword,  for  they  disliked  him  very  much. 
They  now  indulged  the  hope  that  all  would  be  at 
an  end,  and  they  would  no  longer  be  disturbed,  so 
that  they  cried  out  loudly  :  "  They  are  defeated 
now ;  Albright  is  dead,  and  they  are  at  an  end !  " 
However,  they  greatly  erred,  for  although  Albright 
was  dead,  yet  God,  Avho  was  the  Author  of  the 
good  work,  still  lived,  and  owned  the  work  as  his, 
knowing  how  to  carry  it  on  and  how  to  extend  it. 
Praise  be  unto  our  mighty  God,  who  does  not 
despise  the  lowly  and  humble,  but  much  rather 
chooses  them  as  his  possession ! 

Through  the  death  of  Albright  the  Discipline 
remained  uncompiled,  and  by  the  advice  of  my 


GEORGE  MILLER. 


239 


brethren  I  undertook  this  important  work,  but  not 
without  some  annoyance,  as  the  Conference  had 
appointed  Albright,  and  not  me.  And  on  the 
other  hand'  I  was  not  an  expert  at  writing,  and 
most  of  the  ministers  were  inexperienced,  with  the 
exception  of  Bro.  Walter,  who  also  strongly  urged 
me  to  have  the  Discipline  ready  for  the  press  as 
soon  as  possible. 

In  December,  1808,  when  Bro.  John  Dreisbach 
and  I  traveled  Buflalo  Circuit,  I  commenced  the 
compilation. 

On  Christmas  evening  Bro.  Dreisbach  preached 
at  the  house  of  a  Methodist  in  Lost  Creek  Valley, 
who  had  invited  us.  After  the  sermon  I  exhorted 
under  the  influence  of  the  grace  of  God.  When  the 
meeting  was  closed,  I  spoke  with  the  family,  and 
with  tears  they  acknowledged  their  dangerous  con- 
dition, that  from  a  lack  of  watchfulness,  and  also 
because  their  preachers  had  left  them — the  neigh- 
borhood, which  was  principally  German — they  had 
lost  the  life  which  comes  from  God.  I  sympathized 
with  them,  exhorted  them  earnestly  again  to  seek 
the  Lord,  and  said  that  we  hoped  God  would  soon 
call  some  more  German  men  to  the  ministry,  so 
that  they  also  could  be  visited  and  encouraged. 
Thereupon  I  went  to  bed  contentedly,  comforted 
of  God,  and,  as  far  as  I  knew,  was  physically 
well,  and  had  the  following  dream :  I  walked  on 
a  street,  positively  certain  that  it  was  the  way  to 


240 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


heaven.  1  walked  a  long  distance  with  good  courage^ 
until  my  way  led  through  a  vast  thicket,  through 
which  I  hurried  the  more  that  I  might  not  be  ov^er- 
taken  by  night  in  this  dense  forest.  Soon  I  arrived 
at  a  place  where  the  bushes  were  covered  with  snow 
and  ice,  on  both  sides  of  the  road,  and  the  branches 
of  the  trees  bent  over  the  road  on  account  of  the 
weight  upon  them,  so  that  with  much  effort  I 
stepped  over  some,  and  others  I  shook  off,  and 
finally  crept  through  under  the  rest  on  my  hands- 
and  feet,  until  at  last  I  was  so  exhausted,  that  I 
laid  myself  upon  my  knees  and  elbows,  and  rested 
and  got  breath  again ;  but  did  not  trust  to  lay  my 
head  down,  on  account  of  the  extreme  cold  and  fear 
of  being  overtaken  by  sleep.  After  much  exertion 
I  suddenly  got  through  it,  and  it  seemed  to  me  as 
though  some  one  had  opened  a  door  and  let  me 
out.  I  looked  back,  and  was  astonished  when  I 
saw  the  woods  on  both  sides  of  the  road,  through 
which  I  had  come,  full  of  wild  and  savage  beasts, 
who  in  their  rage  wanted  to  devour  me.  I  thanked 
God,  who  had  so  graciously  delivered  me  out  of 
this  danger,  turned  quickly  and  walked  on  where,, 
after  a  short  distance,  I  saw  the  city  of  God,  the 
new  Jerusalem  lie  before  me.  I  leaped  for  joy, 
and  courageous^  hurried  on  until  I  noticed  a 
stream  of  water  which  was  between  me  and  the 
city.  I  was  perplexed  and  concerned  how  to  cross 
it;  meanwhile  an  angel  came  towards  me,  seized 


GEORGE  MILLER. 


241 


me  and  led  me  in  a  quick  flight  towards  the  city^ 
and  it  seemed  to  me  as  though  I  had  wings  myself 
and  was  flying  by  the  side  of  the  angel.  The  city 
was  white  as  snow  and  clear  as  transparent  glass. 
We  flew  through  a  brightly  illuminated  door,  and 
with  many  thousands  of  thousands  of  saints  we 
soared  up  and  down  through  heaven.  But  I  knew 
no  one  of  those  who  were  basking  in  joy,  on 
account  of  the  great  glory  that  surrounded  them. 
My  body  and  clothes  were  as  white  as  snow,  and 
as  clear  as  crystal,  and  in  my  hands  I  had  a  trans- 
parent clock,  upon  whose  dial  plate  there  moved  a 
bright  stone,  similar  to  gold,  more  w^onderful  than 
can  be  described.  The  angel  showed  me  a  great  hall 
in  the  distance,  by  which,  in  looking  at  it,  I  wa& 
more  quickened  than  by  all  the  rest  that  1  had 
seen  here,  and  as  I  was  longingly  looking  thither,, 
my  guide  said :  "Behold,  this  is  the  place  of  your 
rest  and  joy y  I  requested  him  to  bring  me  to  this 
place  of  the  glory  of  the  Lord.  "  As  soon  as  you 
will  have  perfectly  obeyed  the  Holy  Scriptures 
and  the  Discipline,  which  you  will  compile  from 
the  same,"  said  he,  '^but  now  3  0U  must  first  go 
back  to  the  earth  and  complete  this  important 
work."  I  gave  him  as  an  answer :  If  God  would 
write  upon  my  heart  his  Word  and  that  which  I 
was  to  compile  out  of  it,  I  would  be  ready  to  go 
back  again ;  but  if  not,  then  I  would  refuse  to  do 

it,  for  unless  God  would  write  it  upon  my  heart 
16 


242 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


I  could  not  complete  it.  Now  the  angel  took  the 
stone  that  was  found  in  my  clock,  and  with  great 
j)ower  stamped  it  upon  my  breast,  and  I  felt  as 
though  an  arrow  had  pierced  me  through,  and  I 
liad  become  mortally  wounded.  The  vision  of  the 
city  vanished,  and  I  stood  upon  the  earth  by  the 
side  of  a  ladder,  whose  top  reached  into  heaven. 
The  angel  said :  You  must  get  on  this  ladder  and 
step  from  one  round  to  another,  until  you.  have 
arrived  at  the  place  of  your  rest."  Although  I  felt 
very  sick  on  account  of  the  pain  in  my  breast, 
nevertheless,  I  hastened  and  got  on  the  ladder, 
and  with  great  effort  reached  the  toj)  of  it,  where, 
to  my  joy,  I  could  again  see  the  place  of  my  rest. 
Here  I  had  to  press  through  a  very  narrow  door, 
and,  having  entered  it,  I  arrived  at  the  desired 
place,  and  sank  into  a  sweet  slumber.  No  doubt 
I  should  have  continued  longer  in  this  slumber,  if 
I  had  not  been  awakened  by  a  severe  pain. 

When  I  awoke,  I  felt  sick  and  a  pain  in  my 
breast.  In  the  morning  I  related  my  dream  to 
Bro.  Dreisbach,  and  that  I  expected  to  get  very 
sick,  perhaps  also  die  soon,  for  my  body  seemed  to 
be  touched  by  the  hand  of  the  Lord. 

From  this  time  on  not  a  day  passed  that  I  did 
not  feel  affected  in  my  mind  on  account  of  my 
bodily  weakness,  and  believed  that  my  end  was 
near.  ^ 

*  The  proverb,  "dreams  are  foam,"  is  not  always  correct.— Joseph 


GEOEGE  MILLEE. 


243 


This  day  I  preached  from  Luke  18.  14  :  ''This 
one  went  down  to  his  house  justified  rather  than  the 
other y  The  Lord  wrought  wonderfully  among 
the  people.  Glory  be  to  his  name !  In  the  even- 
ing I  preached  from  1  John  3.8:  ^'For  this  pur- 
pose the  Son  of  God  teas  manifested^  that  he  might 
destroy  the  ivorks  of  the  devils  We  enjoyed  great 
blessings.  This  night  I  became  yery  sick.  Sev- 
eral days  afterwards  I  came  to  Dauphin  County, 
to  Bro.  John  Walter,  who  had  here  appointed  a 
watch-night  meeting.  I  was  so  weak  in  my  head 
that  I  could  not  endure  any  noise,  and  for  this 
reason  I  remained  alone  in  a  room  for  some  time, 
until  I  got  a  little  stronger,  then  I  preached  with 

in  the  Old,  and  Joseph  in  the  Xew  Testament,  had  dreams  which 
were  divine  revelations.  "  And  your  old  men  shall  dream  dreams," 
is  a  promise  of  the  new  Covenant.  It  is  peculiar  that  the  dreams 
that  are  true,  in  many  instances  are  incomprehensible  to  the  dreamer, 
and  that  they  require  an  interpretation.  Sometimes  their  early  ful- 
fillment makes  them  plain.  Thus  it  was  with  our  Bro.  Miller.  His 
wonderful  dream  he  did  not  understand  himself,  for  he  believed  it 
was  an  indication  that  he  would  die  ere  long,  and  yet  he  lived  about 
eight  years  longer.  Xo  doubt  the  history  of  Miller  is  the  explanation 
of  his  dreams.  After  he  had  worked  his  way  through  many  and 
great  difficulties  upon  a  road  which  led  to  heaven,  and  was  near  the 
New  Jerusalem,  he  looked  back,  and  then  first  saw  very  cleai  ly,  how 
many  dangers  he  had  escaped,  and  thanked  God  who  had  so  gracious- 
ly rescued  him,  which  was  a  correct  representation  of  his  course  of 
life  hitherto  Like  all  true  Christians,  Miller  also  cherished  the 
wish  to  enter  into  his  rest,  which  also  manifested  itself  in  his 
dream. 

After  a  glimpse  of  it  was  granted  him,  it  was  said  that  he  must 
return  to  the  earth  until  he  had  compiled  and  obeyed  the  Discipline. 
That  he  would  have  to  pass  through  many  difficulties  and  sufferings 
during  the  remainder  of  his  life,  was  indicated  to  him  by  the  ladder, 


244 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


great  liberty  from  the  words,  Rom.  5.5:  ''But 
hope  maketli  not  ashamed^  for  the  love  of  God  is 
shed  abroad  in  our  hearts  through  the  Holy  Ghost ^ 
tohich  is  given  unto  us.'^  We  were  greatly  blessed 
at  this  meeting,  and  praised  God  for  his  grace. 

After  a  few  weeks  I  arrived  at  my  home  mider 
great  bodily  weakness.  Although  it  appeared  at 
first  as  though  I  would  be  prevented  from  compil- 
ing the  Discipline  through  my  indisposition,  yet 
Divine  Providence  so  overruled,  that  it  only  pro- 


which  he  had  to  ascend  with  great  effort,  until  he  was  permitted  to 
go  to  his  place  of  rest,  which  was  also  clearly  fulfilled  tlu'ough  his 
sickness  and  otlier  sufferings  from  this  time  on.  But  tlie  most 
important  point  after  all  is,  that  through  the  smiting  of  the  angel  in 
his  dream,  his  health  was  so  impaired,  that  henceforward  he  was 
indisposed,  and  therefore  before  long  compelled  to  abandon  his  cir- 
cuit. 

These  circumstances  resulted  in  the  compilation  of  the  Discipline, 
and  besides  it  he  also  issued  a  short  report  of  the  life  and  labors  of 
the  sainted  Albright,  also  his  own  autobiography,  and  a  book  entitled 
"Practical  Christianity,"  which  would  have  hardly  occurred,  if  he 
could  have  continued  his  itinerant  labors. 

Divine  Providence  had  led  Albright  into  the  Methodist  Chureh, 
where  he  became  acquainted  with  their  excellent  regulations  and 
Discipline,  instead  of  going  to  the  "Independent  people,"  who 
rejected  all  Discipline;  and  now  the, itinerant  labors  of  Miller  were 
checked,  so  that  he  could  compile  the  Discipline,  which  Albright  had 
already  recommended  and  the  Conference  ordered.  We  might  almost 
say  he  was,  like  Paul,  kept  quiet,  in  order  to  write  the  Epistles  for 
the  Churches. 

The  Church  regulations  and  Discipline  of  the  Evangelical  Associa- 
tion are  manifestly  gifts  of  Divine  grace  and  Providence.  Only 
through  proper  regard  and  true  administration  of  her  good  Discipline 
can  this  Association  fulfill  her  calling  and  retain  God's  favor.  Woe 
unto  her  if  she  lightly  regards  and  neglects  this  Scriptural  arrange- 
ment [R.  Y.-l 


GEORGE  MILLER. 


245 


ceeded  the  faster,  and  was  more  correctly  done; 
for,  in  my  weakness,  I  went  to  work  and  compiled 
Articles  of  Faith  and  Discipline,  partly  out  of  the 
Word  of  God,  and  partly  according  to  the  Episco- 
pal form  of  Church  government.  I  presented  this 
document  to  the  annual  Conference  for  approval, 
and  it  was  accepted  and  referred  to  me  for  publi- 
cation. 

On  account  of  a  lack  of  support  this  work 
seemed  to  be  connected  with  many  difficulties,  yet 
the  matter  soon  took  an  entirely  different  course, 
quite  unexpected  by  any,  for  when  these  Articles 
of  Faith  appeared  in  print,  they  pleased  the  Asso- 
ciation so  well  that  the  expenditures  could  easily 
be  met.  The  results  of  these  regulations  in  the 
Church  were  that  all  received  new  courage,  stead- 
fastly^ to  retain  their  union  with  God  and  with 
one  another,  and  a  number  were  persuaded  to 
unite  with  us,  in  order  to  work  out  their  salvation 
according  to  these  rules.  Thanks  be  unto  God  the 
Father,  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  per- 
mitted me,  as  an  unworthy  instrument,  also  to  do 
something  in  my  bodily  weakness  to  the  honor  of 
his  name ! 

The  internal  and  external  temptations  which 
Satan  thrust  upon  me  during  this  work,  and  how 
I  overcame  them  in  prayer  through  God's  help, 
cannot  be  described.  Many  times  I  was  engaged 
until  midnight  in  wrestling  prayer.    Often  I  lay 


246 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


with  bowed  knees  upon  my  bed  before  God.  and^ 
weary  from  much  mental  effort,  the  repose  of  my 
body  was  disturbed.  It  often  seemed  to  me  as 
though  it  was  impossible  that  this  work  could  be 
completed,  yet  the  Lord  permitted  it  to  succeed, 
and  prolonged  my  life,  so  that  I  could  also  obey 
its  admonitions.  I  was  also  very  anxious  to  obey 
that  which  I  had  compiled  for  the  instruction  and 
benefit  of  others. 

But  God  did  not  want  to  leave  me  untried,  for 
at  an  annual  Conference  I  gave  my  testimony  of 
entire  sanctification,  which  I  believed  I  had  expe- 
rienced, and  also  to  our  Church  Discipline,  which 
I  asserted  I  obeyed,  to  the  great  comfort  and 
edification  of  my  own  soul  and  those  of  my  breth- 
ren. I  thank  God  from  the  depths  of  my  soul 
that  by  so  doing  the  assurance  of  perfect  love 
became  more  assuring  than  ever  before. 

At  this  Conference  I  noticed  that  some  of  the 
traveling  ministers  were  more  engaged  in  secular 
business  than  was  necessary  for  them,  especially 
in  trading  horses ;  and  some  of  them  desired  better 
support,  and  others  brought  charges  against  their 
colleagues,  that  they  neglected  their  appointments 
and  neglected  their  duties,  and  some  of  them  even 
wanted  to  choose  their  circuits  and  colleagues,  etc. 
I  strongly  contended  against  these  evils,  proving- 
them  to  be  injurious,  and  made  several  propositions- 
how  to  remedy  these  difficulties,  but  the  majority 


GEORGE  MILLER. 


24T 


were  wedded  to  their  own  opinions,  while  only  a; 
few  stood  by  me.  Some  were  of  the  opinion  that 
because  I  had  not  constantly  traveled  I  should 
have  but  little  to  sa}^  about  these  things.  How- 
ever, I  realized  the  grace  of  God  to  such  a  degree, 
that  I  took  no  offence,  and  agreed  to  submit  the 
questions  at  issue  to  the  oldest  itinerant  preacher, 
having  confidence  that  the  Lord  would  overrule  all 
things  to  the  furtherance  of  his  cause  and  the  pros- 
perity of  the  Conference.  One  of  the  oldest  itiner- 
ants then  gave  his  opinion,  but  he  met  with  strong 
opposition,  which  he  could  not  so  easily  bear,  but 
which  caused  him  severe  trials.  I  next  informed 
the  Conference  that  I  was  not  at  all  hurt  that  my 
proposition  was  not  adopted,  but  that  I  would 
accept  the  matter  as  coming  from  the  hand  of  God^ 
like  all  other  trials,  and  that,  although  they  all 
seemed  to  be  ver}^  much  discouraged,  I  was  not, 
that  I  believed  the  members  of  the  Conference  to 
be  honest  in  their  convictions,  but  they  did  not 
have  sufficient  grace  to  bear  with  one  another  and 
submit  themselves  to  one  another,  and  that  they 
must  change  in  this  respect,  or  they  would  incul- 
cate this  same  spirit  of  disobedience  among  the 
societies  to  their  own  hurt,  and  exhorted  them  all 
to  seek  entire  sanctification,  in  order  to  carry  on 
the  work  of  God  in  love  and  unity.  This  exhor- 
tation seemed  to  have  its  desired  effect,  and  the 
differences  were  amicably  adjusted. 


248 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


After  the  Conference,  the  ministers  still  being 
all  present,  I  preached  from  the  words :  "  Let  this 
mind  be  in  you,  ivliich  was  also  in  Christ  Jesus.'' 
Phil.  2.  o.  The  Lord  blessed  the  Word  to  many 
hearts,  so  that  a  spirit  of  unit}'  and  love  seemed  to 
pervade  all  the  brethren.  Several  days  later  I 
preached  at  a  "big  meeting,"  on  James  1.  12-15: 
^'Blessed  is  the  man  that  endureth  temptation,''  etc. 
Nearl}^  all  the  preachers  were  present  here  also, 
and  many  of  the  tempted  ones  overcame  their 
temptations  and  praised  God  for  his  grace.  One 
of  them,  who  was  as  near  to  me  as  my  right  hand, 
became  convinced  "through  this  sermon  that  he  did 
not  enjoy  complete  victory  over  a  certain  tempta- 
tion, and  now  overcame  it  throueh  the  erace  of 
God,  both  in  word  and  deed.  May  God  bless  him 
for  his  obedience  and  keep  him  faithful  unto  the 
end! 

From  this  time  on  I  realized  the  grace  of  entire 
sanctification  in  such  a  measure,  and  in  such 
quickening  power,  that  I  was  compelled  to  confess 
this  grace  publicly  while  preaching,  or  do  violence 
lo  mv  convictions;  for  the  doctrhie  of  holiness 
flowed  from  my  lips  involuntaril}',  so  that  I  bore  a 
certain  and  clear  testimony  before  God  and  the 
Church,  and  could  say:  '^Xot  L  hut  the  grace  of 
(rod  in  me."  The  Lord  seemed  especially  to  bless 
the  preaching  of  this  doctrine,  which  gave  me  great 
joy.    Some  of  the  brethren  became  so  fully  assured 


GEOEGE  MILLER. 


249 


of  its  truth  that  they  seemed  to  have  outstripped 
me  wlieii  we  met  in  conference  session  the  follow- 
ing 3'ear.  Blessed  be  the  name  of  a  gracious  and 
merciful  God,  who  has  blessed  this  doctrine  of 
holiness  to  the  edification  of  many  souls.  ^ 

This  induced  me  to  draw  u])  business  rules  for 
the  Conference,  which  were  also  adopted,  and  we 
could  now  do  our  business  in  accordance  with  these 
rules,  so  that  the  majority  of  votes  decided  all 
questions,  and  hence  evils  could  be  suppressed  and 
good  purposes  promoted,  without  hurting  each 
other's  feelings,  or  ofiending  the  weaker  brethren. 
Our  Conferences  hereafter  became  seasons  of  great 
grace,  in  which  all  were  edified  and  encouraged. 
The  Lord  be  praised  who  thus  ordered  it. 

Being  urged  to  write  a  book  on  a  Practical 
Christianity,"  I  consented  to  do  so,  and  compiled 
the  work  in  accordance  with  my  convictions  of 
truth,  drawn  from  the  Scriptures  and  my  own 
experience,  for  the  instruction  of  my  brethren,  the 


*  Father  Wonder,  of  Carey,  Ohio,  stated  to  the  compiler  that  Mil- 
ler often  preached  on  sanctification,  very  decidedly  and  with  great 
power.  He  insisted  upon  it  that  Christians  must  be  filled  with  such 
a  divine  fullness  that  they  could  at  once  resist  all  temptations.  His 
texts  upon  this  subject  were  mostly  the  following :  "Be  ye  holy,  for 
I  am  holy."  "  Sanctify  tliem  through  thy  truth,  thy  word  is  truth." 
"I  sanctify  myself  for  them,  so  that  they  might  also  be  sanctified  in 
the  truth."  "  Be  ye  perfect  even  as  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven 
is  perfect,"  etc.  Father  H.  Xiebel  says,  he  had  never  heard  the  like, 
and  never  heard  any  one  preach  on  sanctification  as  Miller  preached 
it.  [B.  y.] 


250  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 

furtherance  of  the  knowledge  of  God  among  men^ 
and  to  show  how  each  one  in  his  sphere  should 
serve  and  honor  God.  May  God  grant  his  blessing 
to  the  unpretending  volume  to  the  edification  of 
many.  I  wrote  the  book  A.  D.  1811,  but  it  was- 
not  published  until  A.  D.  1814.  At  the  same 
time  I  published  the  biography  of  the  sainted 
Jacob  Albright. 

In  the  meanwhile  I  preached  as  often  as  my 
bodily  weakness  would  permit.  I  had  still  to 
endure  persecutions,  on  the  one  hand  from  wicked 
men,  who  opposed  me  with  threats,  slander  and 
scoffing,  while  on  the  other  hand,  those  who  flat- 
tered  themselves  to  be  Christians,  but  were  only 
nominal  professors,  slandered  me  on  account  of  my 

zeal  for  the  Lord.    Even  among  the  M   such 

persons  were  to  be  found,  who  stood  in  opposition 
to  the  truth.  But  thanks  be  unto  God,  who  gave- 
me  the  victory  over  my  enemies,  that  I  could  pray 
for  them  and  admonish  them  when  opportunity 
presented  itself.  Some  of  them  did  reform,  others 
fell  under  the  same  judgment  which  they  had 
falsely  passed  upon  me.  Even  my  father-in-law,, 
who  through  his  cunning  craftiness  had  misled 
and  entrapped  most  of  his  children  to  sin  again, 
was  compelled  to  observe  the  difference,  discon- 
tinue his  accusations  against  me,  and  leave  me  in 
peace,  even  giving  me  aid  in  temporal  things. 

Some  might  be  anxious  to  know  how  I  succeeded 


GEOKGE  MILLER. 


251 


in  temporal  concerns  during  these  eight  years.  I 
had  traveled  about  five  years,  and  the  rest  of  the 
time  I  was  very  feeble  in  health,  and  when  I  com- 
menced my  itinerancy  my  temporal  matters  were 
in  an  unsettled  condition,  as  I  previously  stated. 
However,  things  shaped  themselves  in  a  peculiar 
manner,  beyond  the  highest  expectations  of  myself 
or  my  friends.  All  my  debts  had  been  paid,  and 
I  retained  an  unencumbered  homestead,  which  I 
afterwards  sold  for  two  thousand  and  six  hundred 
dollars,  and  my  family  was  well  provided  during 
all  this  time.  Some  miaiit  be  led  to  think  that 
preaching  must  be  quite  a  profitable  calling,  if 
debts  can  be  paid  and  property  retained.  But  I 
did  not  receive  above  two  hundred  dollars  for  the 
entire  time  of  eight  years,  and  my  traveling 
expenses  more  than  covered  that  amount.  I  had 
inherited  very  little,  except  that  my  father-in-law, 
in  A.  D.  1811,  gave  me,  upon  the  urgent  solicita- 
tion of  his  wife,  a  bond  amounting  to  $186.75, 
because  I  was  apparently  prospering,  even  in 
worldly  matters,  much  more  than  the  other  mem- 
bers of  the  family,  although  they  were  doing  all  in 
their  power  to  become  rich, —  the  Lord  giveth  to 
whom  he  will.  • 

In  the  beginning  I  rented  m}^  farm,  but  only 
became  deeper  involved  b}^  it.  My  wife  at  first 
thought  we  might  serve  God  and  mammon  at  the 
same  time,  however  soon  became  willing  to  give 


252 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


up  the  world.  I  then  sold  a  hundred  acres  of  my 
land  and  paid  my  debts.  We  resolved  to  be  con- 
tented with  little,  and  through  diligence  and 
economy  to  get  through  the  world  honestly.  God's 
blessing  rested  upon  all  we  had,  for  although  I  now 
owned  but  a  small  tract  of  land,  and  that  was 
sometimes  sowed  late,  yet  we  had  no  lack  of  bread, 
nor  any  other  good  thing,  so  that  we  were  fre- 
quently surprised  about  it.  Moreover,  the  peace 
of  God  abode  with  us,  so  that  love  and  unity 
reigned  and  controlled  our  hearts.  After  I  was 
compelled  to  locate  on  account  of  bodily  infirmities, 
I  settled  uj)  my  temporal  affairs,  for  I  expected 
soon  to  die,  as  I  felt  very  weak,  frequently  sinking 
to  the  floor,  and  often  hardly  able  to  arise  from  my 
knees  after  prayer. 

Our  family  peace,  however,  became  somewhat 
disturbed  in  the  following  manner :  In  reproving 
sin,  I  usually  spoke  in  a  decided  and  positive  man- 
ner, and  by  the  grace  of  God  had  succeeded  to 
suppress  all  idle  and  vain  talk  and  backbiting  on 
my  circuit,  and  now  occasionally  some  sanctimoni- 
ous persons  would  call  at  our  house  and  tell  my 
wife  what  this  or  that  nominal  Christian  or  back- 
sliding M  had  said  of  me  and  of  our  Church. 

In  her  simplicity,  and  without  evil  intention,  she 
would  relate  these  things  to  me  again  in  the  pres- 
ence of  others,  and  thus  furnish  material  for 
blander,    I  saw  at  once  that  Satan  w^as  trying  to 


GEORGE  MILLEE. 


253 


gain  some  advantage  over  us,  and  hence  exhorted 
my  wife  and  others  to  avoid  such  slanderers,  and 
if  they  did  not  want  to  do  that,  they  should  no. 
more  burden  my  heart  with  these  things.  I  felt  it 
my  duty  also  to  preach  against  this  evil,  and  chose 
the  words  of  James  for  my  text :  "  If  any  man 
among  you  seem  to  be  religious,  and  hridleth  not  Ms 
tongue,  but  deceiveth  Ms  oivn  heart,  tMs  man-s- 
religion  is  vain'^  James  1.  26.  Through  God's 
grace,  I  set  forth  the  sin  of  slander  so  clearly,  that, 
it  was  impossible  for  them  to  do  otherwise  than 
wilfully  to  oppose  or  to  reform.  I  am  convinced 
that  our  class  has  suffered  much  from  slandering : 
and  ministers  should  be  careful  that  they  do  not 
neglect  their  duty,  but  earnestly  reprove  this  evil. 
I  am  fully  persuaded  that  if  the  sin  of  evil-speak- 
ing is  allowed  to  continue,  whatever  its  nature 
may  be,  especially  against  those  in  authority,  father* 
or  mother,  or  against  any  other  person,  and  the 
flame  of  this  consuming  fire  is  not  quenched,  it 
will  cause  grief  and  sorrow,  and  confusion  in  the 
Church.  One  of  the  reasons  why  so  few  married 
men  consecrate  themselves  to  the  ministry,  is< 
because  they  allow  themselves  to  be  controlled  by 
their  wives,  yea,  frequently  more  than  by  an 
annual  conference.  The  Lord  pardon  their  lack 
of  firmness,  and  bring  many  more  married  menj 
into  his  vineyard.  Should  among  so  many  hun- 
dreds not  one  be  found  whom  the  Lord  has  called 


254 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


and  qualified  for  the  work  of  the  ministry?  I  can 
hardly  believe  it.  Witty  skeptics  may  think  what 
they  will,  I  prefer  to  believe  what  I  have  myself 
experienced. 

If  a  minister  is  not  obedient  to  his  call,  the  work 
of  God  will  stagnate  in  his  soul.  He  certainly 
cannot  teach  the  doctrine  of  holiness  clearly  nor 
effectually,  nor  can  he  properly  discriminate  if 
he  hears  it  taught  by  others,  and  besides  that 
he  cannot  guide  erring  ones  properly.  Should  he 
attempt  to  do  so  without  possessing  the  grace  of 
God,  he  will  only  cause  the  injury  to  be  greater, 
instead  of  doing  any  good.  Of  this  I  am  fully  con- 
vinced, my  ministry  having  given  me  opportunity 
to  see  these  things,  having  heard  a  minister  preach 
on  sanctification  erroneously,  and  not  in  accord- 
ance with  the  Word  nor  my  experience. 

The  grace  of  sanctification  is  the  complete  vic- 
tory in  us  through  Christ,  that  we  can  momenta- 
rily resist  and  overcome  all  temptations  and  allure- 
ments to  sin,  so  that  evil  or  sin  can  neither 
inwardly  nor  outwardly  reign  over  us.  But  the 
sanctified  person  dare  not  think  for  a  moment  that 
he  is  not  exposed  to  the  danger  of  being  tempted 
and  allured  into  sin ;  he  has  much  rather  reason 
to  be  watchful  and  prayerful,  and  to  work  out  his 
salvation  with  fear  and  trembling ;  but  he  can  also 
be  assured  that  the  grace  of  God,  through  Christ, 
is  stronger  than  the  devil,  the  world  and  the  flesh. 


GEORGE  MILLER. 


255 


Whosoever  does  not  receive  this  grace  in  vain,  but 
perseveres  in  it  with  watchfulness  and  prayer  unto 
the  end  of  his  life,  will  be  preserved  from  all  sin, 
and  kept  unto  eternal  life.  * 

*  This  definition  of  "perfect  lioliness,"  as  the  Evangelical  fathers 
were  accustomed  to  call  it,  as  "the  complete  victory  in  us  through 
Christ,  that  we  can  momentarily  resist  and  overcome  all  temptations 
and  allurements  to  sin,  so  that  evil  or  sin  can  neither  inwardly  nor 
outwardly  reign  over  a  wholly  sanctified  person,"  etc.,  was  very  cur- 
rent in  the  early  days  of  the  Evangelical  Association,  and  is  also 
mentioned  in  the  Discipline  in  the  Article  on  Christian  Perfection, 
which  says  that  in  the  state  of  Sanctification  and  Christian  Perfec- 
tion "all  self-will  and  selfishness  is  perfectly  subdued,  and  such  a 
Christian  resists  and  overcomes  any  temptation  the  moment  it  pre- 
sents itself."  And  also  in  the  third  question  to  candidates  for  the 
ministry:  "Is  the  love  of  God  shed  abroad  in  your  heart  by  the  Holy 
Spirit  in  such  a  measure  that  you  have  complete  victory  over  every 
sin,  inwardly  and  outw^ardly?  If  not,  do  you  earnestly  desire  it,  do 
you  seek  it  with  all  your  heart? "  Again  in  the  fifth  section  of  "the 
rules  and  directions  for  preachers,"  in  the  first  direction:  "He 
should  be  in  such  a  state  of  grace,  that  no  sin  whatever  has  dominion 
over  him,  neither  inwardly  nor  outwardly;  and  should  this  not  be  the 
case  with  him,  that  he  strive  without  delay  to  become  a  partaker  of 
perfect  love,  otherwise  he  cannot  abide  as  a  true  Christian,  much  less 
as  a  teacher."  This  "complete  victory"  was  regarded  as  synonymous 
with  the  following  paragraph  of  the  Article  on  Christian  Perfection  : 
"We  are  unanimous  that  we  may  be  redeemed  from  sin  long  before 
we  die,  that  is,  from  all  evil  affections  and  desires,"  for  when  we 
"ward  off  and  overcome  any  temptation  when  it  presents  itself,"  and 
hence  "momentarily  resist  and  overcome,"  without  the  divine  rest 
and  peace  in  the  soul  being  disturbed,  then  there  is  no  sin  present  to 
correspond  with  the  temptation. 

And  further  also  as  synonymous  with  :  "  To  love  God  with  all  the 
heart,  with  all  the  soul,  with  all  the  mind  and  with  all  the 
might" — which  was  also  denominated  according  to  John's  teach- 
ing by  the  expression  "perfect  love,"  as  above  mentioned.  To 
the  fathers  the  expressions,  "complete  victory,"  "perfect  love," 
and  "entire  sanctification,"  were  synonymous.  Neither  did 
they  in  the  least  suppose  that  the  expression,  "complete  victory," 
as  applied  to  the  entirely  sanctified,  presupposed  that  a  regener- 


256 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


Yes,  Lord,  thy  grace  is  our  life;  that  we  cara 
lead  a  holy  life  is  through  thy  grace;  that  we  have 
peace  in  our  families  and  classes  is  through  thy 
grace;  that  we  have  peace  with  the  Church  of 
God,  yea,  as  far  as  in  us  lieth,  with  all  men,  is 
through  thy  grace.  Oh,  that  each  one  might 
receive  and  retain  the  grace  of  God !  Thanks  be 
given  to  the  God  of  love  that  he  has  helped  me 
through  all  my  difficulties,  and  who  has  not 
suffered  me  to  be  entirely  fruitless  among  my 
brethren.    Thanks  be  unto  God  for  this  grace! 

With  this  grace  I  resolved  not  to  be  a  respecter 
of  persons,  not  to  regard  the  rich  higher  than  the 
poor ;  and  not  to  show  more  leniency  to  my  rela- 

ate  person  does  yet  commit  sin,  and  hence  is  an  actual  sinner,, 
as  little  as  "perfect  love"  presupposed  that  he  who  does  not  possess, 
it  was  entirely  cold,  or  had  no  love  at  all,-  or  "perfect  holiness,'" 
that  a  person  who  is  not  entirely  sanctified  is  totally  without  holiness^ 
They  taught  that  the  regenerated  had  victory  over  sin,  so  that  he 
lives  without  committing  actual  sin;  notwithstanding  evil  inclina- 
tions and  desires  still  adhere  to  him,  and  a  complete  victory  by  the- 
entirely  sanctified,  so  that  he  momentarily  refuses  and  overcomes  the- 
temptation.  Bishop  Seyhert  once  in  a  sermon  upon  this  subject  very 
excellently  defined  the  position  of  the  fathers,  in  that  he  asserted 
that  complete  victory  or  entire  sanctification  was  known  by  this  :  that 
when  the  Christian  was  tempted  to  previous  cherished  sins,  every- 
thing that  was  in  him  would  rise  up  against  it,  yea,  that  he  now  hates 
these  things  the  most  — instead  of  entering  into  a  long-continued 
struggle  with  inward  inclinations  toward  them  as  formerly  —  in  sucli 
a  one  the  heart  root  of  sin  was  eradicated. 

And  herein  also  must  the  practical  sense  of  this  divinely  instructed 
man  be  recognized.  Not  fine-spun  theories,  whicli  could  be  stretched 
and  bent  at  pleasure,  but  truthful,  practical  explanations  and  defini- 
tions, which  touched  the  point  in  its  depths,  were  taught  by  them. 

[K.  Y.l 


GEORGE  MILLER. 


257 


tives  than  to  strangers.  This  resolution  the  Lord 
blessed,  so  that  it  did  not  remain  fruitless  with  my 
loved  ones;  and  this  also  furnished  much  with 
which  to  describe  on  a  better  basis  true  and  practi- 
cal Christianity. 

Because  I  supposed,  as  I  have  already  men- 
tioned, that  I  would  not  live  long,  so  I  arranged 
my  temporal  matters,  that  after  my  decease  my 
fiimily  might  be  provided  for,  assigning  my  prop- 
erty to  my  wife,  and  prayed  the  Lord  that  he 
might  assist  and  help  her  to  overcome. 

But,  in  the  year  1812,  my  circumstances  changed 
very  much,  and  that  so  rapidly  and  easily  that  I 
could  hardly  realize  it.  Since  I  had  gained  some- 
what in  strength  and  health,  my  wife  advised  me 
to  sell  my  farm  and  to  buy  another.  I  felt  disin- 
clined to  do  so,  yet  since  an  opportunity  presented 
itself,  I  sold  it. 

A  short  time  afterwards  I  visited  Union  County, 
and  without  any  trouble  purchased  another  tract 
of  land  in  Buffalo  (now  Union)  Township,  and  we 
moved  thither  on  the  1st  of  May,  1812. 

My  temporal  gain  by  this  exchange  was  consid- 
erable. I  believed  that  I  had  doubled  my  estate 
in  value.  What  we  ]D0Ssessed  in  a  limited  quan- 
tity in  the  former  place,  we  had  here  in  abundance. 
If  I  had  only  been  wise  enough  in  the  beginning, 
and  would  have  rented  my  land  to  an  experienced 

farmer,  we  should  have  escaped  many  inconveni- 
17 


258 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


ences,  but  we  had  forgotten  that  I  lacked  the 
knowledge  of  farming,  and  even  though  I  would 
have  had  it,  my  bodily  Aveakness  and  official  labors 
would  not  have  permitted  me  to  engage  in  such  a 
business.  Hence,  through  losses  we  must  become 
wise;  for  now  I  needed  agricultural  implements, 
as  also  laborers,  and  so  I  had  ere  long  made 
myself,  as  also  my  wife  and  children,  servants  of 
my  domestics,  and  I  soon  learned  that  in  this  way 
we  all  were  foolish  slaves.  We  placed  a  great 
obstacle  in  our  way  to  attend  religious  services,  for 
we  hardly  found  time  to  attend  a  "  big  meeting," 
though  before  this  we  could  hold  such  meetings 
ourselves.  And  in  addition  to  this,  when  the  year 
closed,  we  were  no  better  off  in  our  temporal  mat- 
ters than  when  we  began.  And  why,  then,  so 
much  useless  trouble,  if  we  can  get  along  just  as 
well  with  less?  Neither  was  I  as  useful  to  my 
brethren  as  I  might  have  been,  and  this  may  have 
been  one  cause  why  I  was  visited  with  severe  sick- 
ness. At  any  rate,  I  thank  God  for  it,  for  there- 
by I  was  rescued  from  the  danger  threatening  me, 
so  that  in  the  Spring,  at  a  "  big  meeting,"  I  could 
preach  with  grace  and  freedom  from  the  words, 
''Ye  cannot  serve  God  and  mammon^  Matt.  6.  24. 

Before  I  took  sick  I  had  already  determined  to 
change  my  business ;  but  my  loved  ones  and  others 
advised  me  not  to  —  every  beginning  was  difficult, 
and  we  must  patiently  wait,  that  our  trouble 


GEORGE  MILLER. 


259 


would  yet  be  richly  rewarded,  but  we  were  disap- 
pointed, for  instead  of  reaping  joy  we  experienced 
much  sorrow.  I  became  greatly  concerned  about 
these  things.  I  heard  others  preach  with  great 
spiritual  power,  but  I  felt  myself  weak,  and  had 
not  the  success  while  preaching  as  formerly,  and 
one  year  after  another  followed  without  any  mate- 
rial change. 

Labor  is  necessary,  for  man  is  commanded  to 
work,  and  in  the  sweat  of  his  brow  to  eat  his 
bread,  and  an  indolent  man  can  be  no  Christian. 
^'^If  any  would  not  work,"  says  Paul,  ''neither 
should  he  eat,"  for  God  has  commanded  us  to 
labor;  but  let  no  one  be  deceived,  the  working  out 
of  our  soul's  salvation  is  paramount  to  everything 
else.  "  Seek  ye  first  the  kingdom  of  God  and  his 
righteousness,"  and  all  the  rest,  if  you  do  your 
duty,  "shall  be  added  unto  you."  ''  We  brought 
nothing  into  this  world,  and  it  is  certain  we  can 
carry  nothing  out.  And,  having  food  and  raiment, 
let  us  be  therewith  content." 

In  the  Spring  of  the  year  1815  I  was  again 
taken  very  sick,  so  that  I  was  unable  to  attend  to 
my  business.  Brother  Michael  Deibler  then 
relieved  us  of  a  part  of  our  burden  by  farming 
some  of  my  land.  I  then'  spent  most  of  the  time 
in  reading  and  prayer,  waiting  for  my  departure. 
But  when  I  looked  at  the  great  danger  in  which  I 
would  leave  my  family,  while  being  connected 


260 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


with  so  much  business,  a  heavy  burden  rested  upon 
my  heart.  I  therefore  frequently  talked  with 
them  about  these  things,  for  their  salvation  lay 
near  my  heart. 

Connected  with  my  bodily  weakness  I  had  many 
internal  and  external  sufferings,  and  on  this 
account  I  sought  counsel  of  my  brethren  during 
these  heavy  trials,  and  requested  them  to  remem- 
ber me  in  their  prayers,  notwithstanding  I  was 
perfectly  convinced  that  God,  who  had  helped  me 
hitherto  and  given  me  the  victory,  also  would  not 
forsake  me  in  the  future.  He  permitted  me  daily 
to  feel  His  love  and  enjoy  His  grace,  so  that  I 
could  love  my  adversaries,  pray  for  them,  and  live 
among  them,  comforted  and  joyful  in  trials  and 
afflictions.  I  could  also  praise  God  for  all  adversi- 
ties. But  still  I  was  not  ashamed  to  ask  my 
brethren  and  sisters  to  pray  for  me,  because  I 
knew  from  experience  how  unable  man  is  of  him- 
self to  stand  in  threatening  dangers,  and  how 
powerful,  faithful  and  earnest  prayer  can  strength- 
en the  weak.  I  appealed  earnestly  to  God  in 
secret,  that  I  might  learn  to  know  his  will  perfect- 
ly, so  that  my  will  might  be  entirely  submissive 
to  the  divine  will,  that  if  my  Lord  for  wise  pur- 
poses would  chasten  me  like  a  Job,  that  he  would 
care  for  me  in  temporal  as  well  as  in  spiritual  mat- 
ters as  a  gracious  and  loving  Father,  and  not  per. 
mit  me  to  perish. 


GEORGE  MILLER. 


261 


The  chastisements  of  the  Lord  are  manifold, 
and,  to  us,  often  incomprehensible,  for  his  ways 
are  not  our  ways,  and  his  thoughts  are  not  our 
thoughts ;  and  Ave  should  give  ourselves  no  trouble 
as  to  the  manner  which  God  chooses  to  correct  his 
children, —  for  what  God  doeth,  is  well  done, —  nor 
dare  we  compel  others  to  conform  their  lives  to 
our  own,  although  we  may  have  fully  surrendered 
our  wills  to  God,  and  act  in  conformity  with  his 
will;  for  God  himself  forces  no  one  into  his 
service,  but  allows  each  to  act  freely,  as  he  has 
appointed  a  day  when  he  will  reward  every  one 
according  to  his  works.  However,  acting  in  the 
relation  of  parents,  or  as  persons  having  authority 
from  God,  we  may  chastise  those  under  our  care 
according  to  their  transgressions,  but  we  have  no 
right  to  rule  over  their  consciences. 

As  I  had  given  myself  so  entirely  to  the  Lord 
as  a  holy  and  acceptable  sacrifice,  it  was  fulfilled 
in  me  what  Paul  says :  ''God  loorJcetli  in  me  both 
to  ivill  and  to  do  of  his  good  lüeasure,^'  Thanks 
be  unto  the  Lord  that,  through  adversities  and 
chastisements,  and  the  co-operation  of  his  grace 
and  love,  he  moved  my  heart  and  made  me  more 
willing  than  ever  before  to  tear  myself  loose  from 
all  the  transitory  things  of  this  world,  as  well  as 
from  its  snares  and  fetters,  and  consecrate  mvself 
and  all  my  time  more  fully  to  my  calling  and  office 
for  the  salvation  of  men.    This  being  my  firm 


262 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


determination,  my  prayer  was:  "Have  I  found 
grace  before  thee,  0  Lord !  permit  me  to  be  well 
pleasing  in  thy  sight,  whether  my  days  on  earth 
are  many  or  few,  for  thou,  my  God,  hast  given  me 
a  will  to  live  entirely  for  thee,  and  not  to  the 
world ;  oh,  give  me  also  the  ability  to  do  according 
to  thy  pleasure.  If  it  even  should  please  thee  to 
withdraw  from  us  temporal  blessings,  and  to  prove 
our  faithfulness  with  severe  chastisements,  never- 
theless let  it  please  thee  to  save  our  souls  and 
preserve  thou  us  from  the  cares  of  life,  as  far  as 
thou,  0  Father,  seest  that  it  is  necessary  and 
wholesome  for  us."  * 


*  What  a  diligent  and  earnest  man  of  prayer  the  sainted  Miller 
was,  becomes  very  clear  when  the  expressions  that  refer  to  it  are 
grouped  together.  Soon  after  his  conversion  lie  says  :  "  My  brother 
Solomon  and  I  united  in  prayer  to  God  for  his  help."  Soon  after  "he 
besought  the  Lord  for  steadfastness  "  under  persecutions.  As  class 
leader  he  continued  "to  petition  God  in  public  and  secret  for  his 
grace"  for  efficiency  for  this  office.  AVhen  he  started  out  to  preacli 
the  Gospel,  he  "  wept  and  prayed  much  in  the  woods  and  elsewhere 
in  secret,  that  sinners  might  be  converted  to  God."  Concerned  lest 
he  might  injure  one  soul  through  his  preaching,  he  says  :  "On  that 
account  I  prayed  much,  yea,  often  with  weeping,  that  God  might 
preserve  me  from  injuring  anyone  through  my  preaching."  To  receive 
the  positive  assurance  of  his  call  to  the  ministry:  "I  supplicated 
and  prayed  mucli  in  secret,  often  wet  my  Bible  with  tears.  Tea,  for 
hours  I  lay  before  God  with  weeping  for  the  correct  knowledge  of 
his  Word,  etc."  When  Albright  exhorted  him  to  seek  sanctification, 
it  sank  very  deep  into  his  heart,  "  and  with  tears  1  prayed  to  God  for 
the  sanctification  of  my  soul  "—"on  this  account  I  once  spent  nearly 
a  whole  day  in  wrestling  prayer."  Again,  he  wept  and  prayed 
almost  constantly  during  a  journey  of  forty  miles,  "  and  in  the  evening: 
I  wrestled  about  an  hour  in  prayer."  During  a  severe  trial  he  often 
"dismounted  from  his  horse  and  prayed  in   the   thicket,  and 


GEOEGE  MILLER. 


263 


On  the  first  day  of  July,  1815,  I  resolved,  if  it 
should  please  God  to  prolong  my  life,  to  arrange 
what  I  had  recorded  at  different  times  about  my 
experiences,  occurrences  and  difficulties  properly 
into  an  autobiography.  I  withdrew  from  worldly 
business  as  far  as  I  believed  it  was  in  accordance 
with  God's  will  and  ordered  the  necessary  things 
which  I  required  to  make  a  short  journey,  so  that, 

triumphed  over  the  temptation."  After  this  he  says,  "  I  often  prayed 
from  one  appointment  to  anOtlier,  that  I  might  become  pleasing  to 
God,  and  useful  to  my  fellow  men."  At  a  place  where  it  looked  sad, 
spiritually,  he  said  :  "  But  I  prayed  for  them,  for  their  salvation  lay 
near  my  heart."  Relative  to  a  protracted  meeting,  he  prayed  "much 
in  secret  unto  the  Lord."  For  a  class  into  which  the  enemy  tried  to 
enter,  "he  prayed  much  in  secret  that  the  Lord,  by  his  Spirit,  might 
instruct  them."  At  another  place  "he  prepared  himself  in  prayer  to 
win  them  through  God's  grace."  While  he  was  compiling  the  Disci- 
pline he  spent  "  many  times  in  wrestling  prayer  until  midnight." 
On  account  of  his  tempoial  circumstances,  "he  longed  after  God  in 
earnest  secret  prayer,  that  he  might  learn  to  know  God's  will  per- 
fectly." And  above  he  concludes  this  subject  with  a  fervent  prayer. 
Such  earnest  persevering  and  faitlif ul  men  of  prayer  were  also  Mil- 
ler's co-laborers  :  for  hours,  days,  yea,  through  whole  nights  they 
called  upon  God  for  his  Spirit  and  blessing  to  be  poured  upon  them- 
selves and  all  the  people. 

With  these  Evangelical  preachers  the  question  was.  What  above 
everything  else  is  necessary  for  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  the 
office  of  the  Gospel  ministry?  Answer:  "Prayer!"  What  is  nec- 
essary in  the  second  place  ?  Answer  :  "  Prayer  !  prayer  ! !  "  What 
is  necessary  in  the  third  jjlace?  Answer:  "Prayer,  prayer, 
prayer!!!"  Miller's  prayers  were  frequently  answered  in  such  a 
wonderful  manner  that  it  could  be  said,  God  had  rewarded  him 
openly.  From  experience  he  could  put  the  following  clause  in  the 
Discipline,  which  is  found  at  the  end  of  Rules  and  Directions  for 
preachers  :  "He  that  desires  to  be  useful  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord 
must  be  fervent  in  prayer,  love  his  brethren  and  sisters  cordially, 
and  pray  much  for  himself  and  them  in  secret."  Jesus  prayed  thus, 
and  all  true  ministers  of  the  Gospel  follow  him.  [R.  Y.] 


264 


LIFE  AND  LABOES  OF 


after  completing  the  work,  I  could  once  more  visit 
my  brethren  in  Christ,  to  edify  myself  with  them 
in  the  Lord.  My  great  weakness  hindered  me 
very  much  in  writing,  and  led  me  to  the  thought 
that  I  could  not  finish  my  work ;  for  my  back  and 
other  members  of  my  body  often  trembled  on 
account  of  weakness  and  pain.  Other  obstacles 
also  appeared,  so  that  I  sometimes  thought  that 
the  Lord  had  permitted  them  to  come  upon  me  to 
hinder  me  in  writing,  since  perhaps  it  might  be 
better  and  more  acceptable  to  God  if  my  history 
would  remain  unpublished.  But  as  soon  as  I 
wrote  again  I  realized  the  blessing  of  God,  and 
believed  if  it  displeased  him  he  could  easily  pre- 
vent it,  but  if,  in  accordance  with  his  will,  also 
assist,  and  I  had  no  preference  between  the  two, 
only  so  that  God's  honor  and  the  welfare  of  my 
fellow-men  might  be  promoted.  I  spent  over  four 
weeks  at  this  work;  in  part  I  copied  it  from  my 
papers,  and  j)artly  wrote  from  memory,  and  I 
know,  as  also  my  conscience  testifies,  that  I  have 
written  the  truth.  Thanks  be  to  the  Father  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  permits  me  to  realize 
his  grace  and  love,  and  who  has  given  me  not  only 
the  will,  but  also  the  ability,  so  that  I  am  more 
separate  from  the  world  to-day  than  I  was  when 
I  formed  the  above  resolution  —  and  it  has  also 
already  proved  a  blessing  in  my  own  household. 
To-day  I  visited  my  sick  Brother  Dreisbach,  and 


GEOEGE  MILLER. 


265 


had  much  blessing  in  prayer.  If  it  should  please 
the  Lord  to  spare  my  life  I  will  write  more  about 
his  goodness  toward  me  Oh,  that  my  short  life 
might  be  consecrated  to  God  alone,  through  Jesus 
Christi  Amen. 


266 


LIFE  AND  LABOKS  OF 


APPENDIX. 


HIS   LAST  SICKNESS. 

pROM  the  time  George  Miller  had  that  remark- 
able dream,  in  which  the  angel  smote  him  on 
the  breast,  he  was  in  poor  health,  and  often 
endured  much  bodily  suffering,  still,  he  preached 
occasionally,  and  assisted  at  "big  meetings,"  but 
during  the  last  eight  years  of  his  life  he  was  not 
able  to  serve  a  charge.  Finally  the  time  arrived 
when  he  should  finish  his  course.  In  the  month 
of  December,  1815,  he  was  confined  to  his  bed  by 
consumption.  For  more  than  three  months  he 
suffered  severe  pain,  but,  at  the  same  time,  enjoyed 
the  consolations  of  the  Lord,  and  saw  his  redemp- 
tion approaching,  full  of  the  assurance  that  Christ 
was  his  life,  and  to  die  his  gain.  Three  days 
before  his  departure  he  was  attacked  by  severe 
pains.  On  the  5th  of  April,  1816,  he  exchanged 
time  for  eternity  in  Union  Township,  Union 
County,  Pa.  His  last  words  were  :  "  I  know  that 
I  shall  be  saved."  His  remains  were  interred  in 
New  Berlin,  Pa.  Bro.  H.  Niebel  jDreached  the 
funeral  sermon  from  Rev.  3.  10:  "Because  thou 
hast  kept  the  word  of  my  patience,  I  also  will 
keep  thee  from  the  hour  of  temptation,  which  shall 


GEORaE  MILLER. 


267 


come  upon  all  the  world,  to  try  them  that  dwell 
upon  the  earth." 

LITERARY   LABORS   OF   GEO.  MILLER. 

Inasmuch  as  Miller  concludes  his  autobiography 
with  remarks  about  his  writings,  it  may  on  this 
account,  and  for  other  reasons,  be  appropriate  to 
add  a  few  items  here.  George  Miller's  literary 
labors  from  1809  until  1816  were  in  themselves 
not  insignificant,  and  to  the  Association  of  great 
value.  Of  course  his  style  was  not  flowery,  and 
.  also  needed  some  grammatical  correction,  yet  his 
writings  were  not  superficial,  but  pithy,  theologi- 
cally correct,  and  adapted  to  actual  wants,  and 
hence  also  truly  practical. 

The  first  edition  of  the  Discipline,  prepared  by 
him,  was  for  him  a  very  great  work,  which  often 
caused  him  to  pray  earnestly  and  perseveringly  for 
wisdom  from  above.  It  appeared  in  1809  under 
the  following  title  :  "Doctrines  of  Faith,  and  Gen- 
eral Rules  of  Christian  Church  Discipline,  and  reg- 
ulation for  the  so-called  Albright  people,  as  aiming 
at  the  nature  and  object  of  their  union  with  God 
and  among  themselves,  by  the  grace  of  God  to 
work  out  their  salvation,  and  to  live  and  walk  in 
unity  of  faith  and  chastity,  in  obedience  to  such 
rules  according  to  the  Word  of  God.  Furnished 
for  the  press  by  George  Miller,  on  the  advice  of 
the  elders  of  this  Association,  and  the  endorsement 
of  their  Conference." 


268 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


The  little  volume  contains  seventy-five  pages, 
and  is  divided  into  fifteen  sections.  It  contains  no 
table  of  contents,  which  was  often  the  case  with 
books  at  that  and  earlier  periods  of  time.  The 
introduction  of  this  Discipline,  although  imperfect, 
as  was  afterward  seen,  was  nevertheless  a  great 
blessing  to  the  Association.  It  is  remarkable  that 
Miller's  sickness  served  the  purpose  of  a  more 
speedy  compilation  of  the  Discipline  than  would 
otherwise  have  been  the  case.  About  this  point 
he  makes  the  following  remarks :  "  After  a  few 
weeks  I  arrived  at  home  in  great  bodily  weak- 
ness. Though  it  appeared  in  the  beginning  as  if, 
through  my  sickly  condition,  the  compilation  of 
the  Discipline  Avould  be  retarded,  yet  divine  Prov- 
idence overruled  it,  so  that  it  proceeded  only  the 
faster,  and  resulted  in  a  more  correct  compilation." 
Whoever  has  eyes  to  see,  can  herein  recognize 
divine  Providence.  Soon  afterward  at  a  Confer- 
ence session,  the  necessity  was  felt  of  having  Con- 
ference business  rules,  which  the  Discipline  up  to 
this  time  did  not  contain.  Miller  drew  up  such 
rules,  which  proved  to  be  very  useful,  "for,  from 
this  time  on,"  says  he,  "our  Conferences  became 
like  unto  the  ante-chamber  of  heaven,  in  which 
we  all  were  benefited." 

Several  Conferences  in  succession  requested  Mil- 
ler "  to  write  something  useful  for  the  Association," 
-and  in  1810  it  was  resolved  that  a  brief  manuscript 


OEORGE  MILLER. 


269 


upon  the  life  of  Albright,  which  Miller  had  pre- 
pared, should  be  printed.  After  this  he  wrote  an 
excellent  little  practical  volume,  called :  Practi- 
cal Christianity,"  which  was  ordered  to  be  pub- 
lished by  the  Conference  in  1812,  but  for  some 
reason  did  not  appear  until  1814.  This  little  book 
should  be  read  by  every  preacher  and  member  of 
the  Evangelical  Association,  since  it  has  now 
also  appeared  in  the  English  language. 

Miller  was  also  requested  by  this  Conference,  to 
compile  an  "Episcopal  plan  of  government," 
which  involved  a  considerable  enlargement  of  the 
Discipline  relative  to  Church  government.  Hence- 
forth Miller  labored  at  this  work.  In  the  year 
1813,  Miller  promised  the  Conference  "to  finish 
the  addition  to  our  Discipline,  if  God  would  grant 
the  grace."  He  had,  at  this  time,  (dready  conw 
menced  the  improvement  and  enlargement  of  the 
Discipline,  and  labored  at  it  until  his  decease,  in 
1816. 

In  1815,  after  another  attack  of  sickness.  Miller 
resolved  to  write  his  autobiography,  and  completed 
it  substantially  as  we  have  it  now.  This  also  has 
proved  a  great  blessing.  After  Miller  had  died 
triumphantly  in  April,  1816,  the  Conference, 
which  met  in  June  following,  ordered  John  Dreis- 
bach  and  H.  Niebel  "  to  collect  together  our  entire 
Discipline."  In  the  diary  left  by  Dreisbach  we 
find  the  following  notice:    "Monday,  the  17th  of 


270 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


June,  I  arrived  at  home,  and  Bro.  Niebel  and  I 
labored  this  week  at  our  Discipline,  to  arrange  it 
and  prepare  it  for  the  press,  and  God  gave  us  great 
grace  in  this  work  and  blessed  us."  Again: 
Monday,  the  24  th  of  June,  and  throughout  this 
entire  week,  Bro.  Niebel  and  I  were  again  at  work 
collecting  and  arranging  the  material  for  our  entire 
Discipline  and  large  Hymn-Book." 

From  this  time  of  the  Conference  mentioned 
until  the  General  Conference  —  the  middle  of 
October  of  the  same  year,  hence  four  months  only 
—  Dreisbach  and  Niebel  worked  but  two  weeks  at 
the  arrangement  of  the  Discipline,  besides  prepar- 
ing a  large  Hymn-Book,  and  they  could  then 
already  present  the  Discipline  to  the  General  Con- 
ference, which  body  approved  and  ordered  it  to  be 
printed.  The  remainder  of  the  time  Dreisbach 
spent  in  traveling  and  preaching,  as  his  journal 
shows.  Miller  had  done  so  much  preparatory 
work,  and  so  thoroughly,  that  all  that  remained 
to  be  done  was  to  have  it  properly  arranged.  In 
1817  the  second  edition  of  the  Discipline  appeared 
under  the  following  title :  "  Articles  of  Faith  and 
Discipline  of  the  Evangelical  Association^  besides 
the  object  of  their  tmion  with  God  and  one  another. 
This  book  contains  144  pages,  has  proper  divisions 
in  chapters  and  sections,  and  is,  excepting  a  few 
changes,  substantially  the  Discipline  whiöh  we  now 
■have.    We  notice  here : 


GEOEGE  MILLEE. 


271 


1.  How  very  remarkable  it  is  that  Miller, 
through  his  inabilit}'  to  serve  a  charge,  from  IS 09, 
Tvas  led  to  ''icrite''  the  Discipline  and  other  neces- 
sary works,  and  that  he  was  not  only  the  author 
of  the  first  edition  of  the  Disciphne.  but  substanti- 
ally also  the  compiler  of  the  second. 

2.  That  Miller  prayed  earnestly  for  light  and 
strength  in  preparing  the  Discipline,  that  Satan 
attacked  him  with  severe  temptations  during  the 
time  he  was  engaged  in  this  work,  and  that  the 
little  volume  was  so  signally  crowned  with  divine 
favor  —  these  are  significant  facts. 

3.  That  Dreisbach  and  Xiebel  were  so  richly 
blessed,  while  laboring  in  the  preparation  of  the 
second  edition  for  the  press.  This  also  is  remark- 
able. 

The  Discipline  of  the  Evangelical  Association  is 
not  a  mere  human  product.  Under  the  providence 
of  God  it  was  designed  to  fill  a  felt  want,  and  was 
written  by  men  of  earnest  prayer,  under  the 
influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  as  the  blessed  results 
of  this  book  abundantly  prove.  The  Holy  Script- 
ures, of  course,  only  are  insjDired.  yet  this  book  of 
Discipline  is  also  worthy  of  our  highest  esteem  and 
cheerful  obedience,  as  it  is  based  on  the  Word  of 
God.  Hence,  the  earnest  questions  put  to  every 
applicant  for  the  ministry :  Are  you  acquainted 
with  our  Articles  of  Faith  ?  "  Will  you  obey  and 
defend  them?"    Acquaintance  with  our  Articles 


272 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


of  Faith,  and  a  promise  to  obey  and  defend  them,, 
are  thus  made  the  conditions  of  entrance  into  the 
ministry.  Were  the  Discipline  a  mere  human 
work,  such  conditions  could  not  by  any  means  be 
made. 

There  was  a  time  when  not  only  the  ministers 
constantly  carried  the  Discipline  with  them,  but 
many  members  also  had  it  in  their  pockets,  to- 
gether with  the  New  Testament.  This  "rule 
book,"  as  it  was  often  called,  was  highly  prized 
and  much  studied.  We  will  not  say  how  it  is  in 
this  respect  at  the  present  day. 

In  consideration  of  the  previously  mentioned 
facts,  it  is  plain  enough  that  George  Miller  was 
the  first  literary  author  in  the  Evangelical  Asso- 
ciation, to  a  greater  extent  than  has  hitherto  been 
recognized.    "  Honor  to  whom  honor  is  due." 

PERSONAL  CHARACTERISTICS. 

George  Miller's  person  is  described  by  those  who 
knew  him,  as  follows:  He  was  nearly  six  feet 
high,  and  quite  strongly  built.  His  face  was 
oblong,  his  forehead  high  and  full,  had  dark  ej^es, 
quite  a  large  nose,  prominent  cheek  bones,  black, 
hair,  red  eye-brows,  rough  skin  and  large  hands. 
He  shaved  his  whole  face,  wore  rather  coarse, 
home-made  clothing,  yet  dressed  in  a  neat  and  tidy 
manner.  In  his  conversation  he  was  considerate, 
and  always  spoke  to  the  point,  mostly  in  a  gentle 
manner,  but  when  he  considered  it  necessary,  also 


GEORGE  MILLEE. 


278 


very  decidedly.  His  manner  of  preaching  was 
both  animated  and  instructive,  he  could  both 
^' shine  and  thunder."  He  often  selected  his  texts 
upon  his  knees,  with  the  open  Bible  before  him, 
and  then  studied  them  wdth  much  meditation  and 
prayer.  He  divided  them  systematically,  and 
endeavored  to  present  the  truths  contained  therein 
in  a  clear  and  impressive  manner.  Not  seldom 
was  it  the  case  that  his  spirit  was  led  so  deeply 
into  the  truth,  that  he  himself,  as  it  were,  was 
overcome  by  it,  and  so  overwhelmed  by  the  power 
of  God,  that  he  stopped  in  the  midst  of  his  sermon, 
and  praised  God  with  such  power  that  every  per- 
son was  affected  by  it.  Very  often  he  preached 
with  such  victorious  faith,  that  many  of  his 
hearers,  even  scorners  and  persecutors,  dropped  to 
the  floor  like  dead  men,  and  when  again  restored, 
they  called  upon  God  for  the  forgiveness  of  their 
sins.  He  was  an  active  pastor,  and  usually  talked 
directly  to  persons  about  their  soul's  salvation. 
He  also  paid  attention  to  the  children,  and  tried 
to  lead  them  to  Christ  through  catechetical 
instruction  and  exhortation. 

From  an  old  document  that  was  added  to  his 
autobiography,  we  glean  the  folio  win^r  facts: 
^'  Miller's  strong  power  of  discernment,  discretion, 
fearlessness,  and  his  other  abilities  to  build  up  the 
Church  and  spread  the  Gospel,  cannot  well  be 

adequately  described.    In  faith  he  was  heroic,  for 
18 


274 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


his  confidence  in  God's  help  was  great.  In  the 
hottest  persecution  he  would  not  let  his  courage 
sink,  nor  did  he  spare  himself,  if  suffering  was  at 
hand.  When  the  heat  of  persecution  was  the 
greatest,  he  could  infuse  courage  into  his  brethren. 
Neither  allurements  nor  threatening^  could  move 
him  from  carrying  out  the  Lord's  commands.  In 
the  struggle  against  the  enemies  of  the  kingdom  of 
Christ  he  constantly  took  the  lead. 

He  was  very  useful  to  his  brethren  in  the  Gos- 
pel, and  was  beloved  and  highly  respected  as  a 
father  among  them.  He  conducted  himself  as  a 
true  shepherd  towards  the  members  of  the  Associ- 
ation, and  led  them  in  counsel  and  action.  After 
Albright's  early  departure,  these  facts  were  especi- 
ally realized. — To  the  sincere  Christians  he  was  a 
precious  gift  of  God,  and  was  received  by  them 
almost  as  an  angel;  but  to  the  lukewarm  pro- 
fessors he  was  a  pungent  salt,  for  he  reproved 
their  hypocrisy  very  sharply,  therefore  he  was 
hated  by  them  as  well  as  by  the  world.  His 
preaching  was  not  in  enticing  words  of  man's  wis- 
dom, but  in  the  demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and 
power,  so  that  often  the  power  of  God  came  upon 
the  entire  congregation.  At  "big  meetings"  he 
was  especially  diligent  to  elucidate  and  inculcate 
the  necessity  of  growth  in  grace  and  advancement 
in  the  divine  life,  and  to  encourage  believers  to  fol- 
low after  the  sanctification  of  their  souls.    But  his 


GEORGE  MILLER. 


275 


chief  aim  was  properly  to  instruct  his  ministerial 
brethren,  since  he  ivell  knew  that  the  huilding  up  of 
the  Church  was  dependent  upon  loholesome  and  pure 
doctrines.  In  this  matter  he  teas  profoundly  expe- 
rienced^ and  also  possessed  a  special  gift  to  speak 
and  preach  about  it. 

In  the  maintaining  and  execution  of  disci- 
pHne  he  proved  himself  steadfast,  and  was  no 
resjDecter  of  persons.  Before  his  departure  he  had 
the  pleasure  of  seeing  the  Evangelical  Association 
grow  and  increase  under  the  regulations  which 
had  been  adopted,  and  how  God  awakened,  and 
with  his  Spirit's  power  qualified  young  men  to 
prosecute  his  work  and  extend  its  borders. 


LIFE  AND  LABORS 


OF 


JOHN  DREISBACH, 


EVANGELICAL  MINISTER 


AND  THE 


FIRST  PRESIDING  ELDER  IN  THE  EVANGELICAL  ASSOCIATION. 


"FOR  HE  WAS  A  GOOD  MAN."— Acta  11.34. 


277 


PREFACE. 


'HE  compiler  frequently  spoke  with  Father  Dreisbach  in 


relation  to  Albright,  Walter  and  Miller,  but  could  not 
persuade  him  to  write  his  own  autobiography  for  this  book, 
ordered  b}^  General  Conference.  The  reason  he  assigned  was, 
that  he  did  not  consider  himself  worthy,  nor  deserving  to  have 
his  biogi'aph}-  published  with  that  of  the  other  brethren, 
especiall}^  as  he  had  been  compelled  to  sustain  a  local  relation 
so  gi'eat  a  part  of  his  time.  Finalh*.  however,  he  consented 
to  write  a  brief  sketch  of  his  life  up  to  1870,  for  the  '-Living 
Epistle,''  which  is  reproduced  here. — Modest}'  was  a  pre-emi- 
nent trait  of  his  character. — Still,  we  have  attempted  in  a 
measure  to  portray  his  noble.  Christian  and  blessed  life,  draw- 
ing from  such  documents  and  facts  as  were  available.  May 
this  effort  be  made  an  abundant  blessing  to  the  Church,  which 
he  so  dearly  loved,  as  well  as  to  all  the  readers. 


R.  Y. 


279 


I 
I 

i 

CONTENTS.  I 

i 


1.  Preface   279  j 

2.  Autobiographical  Sketch.      -       -       -  .    -  -    281  ' 

3.  J.  Dreisbach  as  a  Traveling  Preacher.       -       -  289  ^ 

4.  J.  Dreisbach  as  Presiding  Elder.    -       -       -  -    297  \ 

5.  J.  Dreisbach  as  a  Preacher.       .       .       .       .  304  ] 

6.  An  Important  Letter.   305  | 

7.  J.  Dreisbach  as  a  Member  of  General  Conference.  -    307  j 

8.  J.  Dreisbach  as  a  Poet.   312  ■ 

9.  J.  Dreisbach  as  a  Statesman.        -       -       -  -    314  ^ 

10.  J.  Dreisbach  as  a  Literary  man.        -       -       -  316 

11.  Father  Dreisbach's  Departure.      -       -       -  -    320  | 


I 

1 

I 

i 

i 


LIFE  AND  LABORS 


OF 

JOHN  DREISBACH. 


Autobiographical  Sketch  of  Rev.  John  Dreisbach. 

J  was  born  June  5tli,  1789,  in  Buftalo  Valley, 

then  Northumberland  County,  Pa.    My  parents 

were  Martin  and  Sabina  F.  Dreisbach    the  Lord 

be  praised  for  such  good  parents  as  they  were. 

However,  their  pious   examples    and  Christian 

instructions  were  not  properly  heeded,  and  hence, 

early  in  life,  I  went  astray  into  sin  and  wickedness, 

and  continued  thus  until  I  was  seventeen  years 

old.    The  Spirit  of  Truth  strove  with  me  all  this 

time,  and  frequently  I  tried  to  become  a  praying 

youth,  and  break  off  my  bad  habits,  but  soon 

relapsed  into  sin,  and  into  even  a  worse  condition 

than  before.    Again  and  again  the  good  Sliepherd 

called  me.  until  I  feared  it  would  be  for  the  last 

time.     Therefore  I  gave  ear  to  his    call,  and 

returned  to  God  in  sincere  penitence  and  earnest 

281 


282 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


prayer,  seeking  pardon  and  salvation  from  sin; 
day  by  day  reading  the  Bible  in  order  to  under- 
stand the  will  of  God  concerning  me.  And  while 
thus  engaged,  imploring  divine  mercy,  I  was  one 
evening  enabled  to  exercise  faith  in  Christ,  so  that 
I  embraced  God's  promised  pardoning  grace,  and 
felt  his  love  in  my  heart.  Then  was  my  sorrow- 
ing, grief,  and  mourning  past,  and  I  was  filled  with 
peace  and  joy,  and  love  to  God  and  man.  I 
adored  and  praised  the  Lord  for  his  mercy  and 
loving-kindness  toward  me,  a  hell-deserving  sinner, 
saved  by  the  grace  of  God  in  Christ.  Yes,  I  was 
happy  indeed,  and  resolved,  by  the  grace  of  God, 
to  be  faithful  in  his  cause  and  service  the  remain- 
der of  my  days.  Such  was  my  Christian  experi- 
ence in  the  month  of  November,  1806y\ 

On  Whitsuntide,  1807,  at  a  quarterly  meeting 
m  Penn's  Valley,  Center  County,  Pa.,  I  received 
preacher's  license  at  the  hands  of  Rev.  Jacob 
Albright^  but  did  not  get  into  the  work  till  near 
the  time  of  my  becoming  a  traveling  preacher  of 
the  Gospel.  On  November  6th,  1807,  I  left  my 
parental  home  for  the  Conference  held  at  Samuel 
Becker's,  on  Muehlbach,  then  Dauphin,  now  Leb- 
anon County,  Pa.,  as  a  candidate  for  reception  into 
the  traveling  connection,  and  was  received.  An 
appointment  was  given  me  accordingly. 

I  served,  as  a  traveling  preacher  in  the  Evan- 
gelical Association,  nearly  fourteen  years  regularly, 


JOHN  DREISBACH. 


the  one-half  of  this  time  as  presiding  elder;  was 
elected  such  in  1814,  at  an  annual  Conference  in 
Buffalo  Valley,  held  at  my  fjither's.  My  district 
embraced  the  whole  of  our  Church  at  that 
time,  extending  in  length  nearh^  300  miles  east 
and  west,  and  over  100  miles  in  breadth  north  and 
south.  At  this  Conference  the  whole  membership 
of  the  Evangelical  iYssociation  was  1016.  and  the 
itinerant  preachers  numbered  13  in  all. 

During  the  first  half  of  my  first  year's  traveling 
I  was  often  in  company  with  Father  Jacob  Albric/ht, 
and  enjoyed  his  fatherly  counsels  and  good  Chris- 
tian example,  much  to  my  edification ;  but  I  also 
had  some  severe  trials  to  endure.  What  tried  me 
most  of  all  was  the  thought  that  perhaps  I  had 
made  a  mistake  in  coming  out  on  the  Gospel  field 
as  a  volunteer,  and  in  thinking  the  Lord  had 
called  me  to  the  work,  when,  perhaps,  it  was  only 
my  own  fanc}*.  I  also  concluded  that  my  gifts 
and  qualifications  were  not  such  as  were  necessary 
to  make  me  a  useful  preacher;  and  also  that  ni}^ 
preaching  was  of  no  use,  because  there  were  no 
conversions  resulting  from  it,  and  that  when  these 
did  occur  in  my  meetings,  they  were  effected  by 
other  preachers'  labors.  I  often  asked  myself: 
"What  can  I  do?  Oh!  what  shall  I  do?"  and 
lamented  thus:  '^Oh,  miserable  man  that  I  am! 
Oh,  that  I  had  waited  longer  for  better  evidence, 
as  to  my  call  to  the  ministry !  "    Yet,  amid  these 


284 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


trials,  I  dared  not  now  leave  the  field.  I  resolved 
to  stand  at  my  post  of  duty,  and  do  what  God 
would  enable  me  by  his  grace  to  do.  I  prayed,  I 
wept,  I  fasted,  read  the  Scriptures,  studied  them 
prayerfully,  tried  to  preach  and  struggled  on  as 
well  as  I  could,  and  God  gave  me  more  light, 
freedom,  and  power  to  preach  his  Word,  and  T 
became  more  and  more  satisfied  that  it  was  my 
duty  to  continue  to  preach  his  blessed  Gospel ;  and 
finally  I  delighted  in  the  glorious  work. 

The  last  half  of  my  first  year  I  traveled  on 
Northumberland  circuit  with  Bro.  George  Miller, 
who  had  charge  of  the  circuit ;  but,  on  account  of 
sickness,  he  left  me  and  the  circuit  December  26  th, 
1808.  I  was  thus  left  alone  on  this  extensive  cir- 
cuit, embracing  Buffalo,  Penn's,  Brush,  Sugar, 
Middle  Creek,  and  Dry  Valleys.  Albright  now 
being  dead,  and  Miller  disabled,  John  Walter  and 
his  colleague,  with  myself,  three  in  number,  were 
the  entire  itinerant  force  left;  and  during  the 
Winter  Walter's  colleague  was  exchanged  for  J ohn 
Erb.  We  had  only  three  local  preachers,  and  at 
the  Muehlbach  Conference,  November,  1807,  there 
was  a  membership  of  only  220.  Those  days  were 
the  days  of  small  things  concerning  our  Zion. 

Though  left  alone  on  this  large  circuit,  the  Lord 
took  good  care  of  me,  a  poor  stripling,  and  gave 
me  success.  Souls  were  converted,  and  the  mem- 
bership increased.    A  brother,  Matthias  Betz,  a 


JOHN  DREISBACH. 


285 


young  man,  made  a  round  on  the  circuit  with  me^ 
and  went  with  me  to  our  annual  Conference,  April, 
1809  ;  also  Bro.  Henry  Niebel,  both  entering  the 
itinerany  at  Conference,  and  became  my  colleagues 
that  year  on  Schuylkill  and  Lancaster  circuits, 
where  our  labors  were  blessed,  sinners  converted, 
and  believers  built  up.  This  year,  in  compliance 
with  an  order  of  our  last  Conference,  three  of  us^ 
were  ordained  elders  at  the  house  of  Henry  Eby, 
near  Lebanon,  Pa.,  during  a  general  meeting  there. 
The  persons  so  ordained  were :  George  Miller, 
John  Walter,  and  John  Dreisbach,  the  last  of  the 
three  being  only  a  few  months  over  twenty  years 
of  age,  and  not  yet  two  years  on  probation.  John 
Erb,  Matthias  Betz,  and  Henry  Niebel  were  pres-- 
ent.  This  was  the  first  formal  ordination  in  the 
Evangelical  Association.  It  was  truly  a  solemn, 
as  well  as  refreshing  season  for  all. 

I  now  felt  myself,  more  than  ever  before,  conse- 
crated to  God  and  his  blessed  cause,  and  my  chief 
desire  was  to  be  useful  in  his  vineyard.  From 
this  time  on  I  felt  firmer  in  the  work,  and  had  a. 
stronger  reliance  upon  God,  trusting  him  to  aid 
me  in  my  Christian  and  ministerial  duties;  and 
thus  I  found  Christ's  yoke  easy,  and  his  burden 
light  during  my  itinerancy  on  circuit  and  district^ 
and  even  since  then  up  to  the  present  time.  The 
Lord  be  praised  for  sustaining  grace ! 

On  April  4th.  1815,  my  beloved  wife  Catharine 


286 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


departed  this  life  in  the  triumj^hs  of  faith.  Not 
quite  four  years  after  we  were  married  death 
separated  us.    Those  only  who  have  experienced 

separation,  by  death,  from  a  beloved  wife,  can 
properly  sympathize  with  others  so  bereaved. 
However,  '^all  things  work  together  for  good  to 
them  that  love  God."  Two  years  after  my 
bereavement  I  again  married.  Our  youngest  son, 
John  E.,  departed  this  life  five  years  ago,  seeing 
his  way  clear  to  fairer  climes  on  liigli.  The  rest 
of  our  children  are  still  probationers,  as  far  as  I 
know.  We  believe  all  of  them  embraced  religion 
in  their  younger  days  Oh,  that  all  may  prove, 
by  a  truly  Christian  character,  that  they  still 
possess  the  blessed  religion  they  embraced  in  early 
life.  And  may  the  unsaved  among  our  grand- 
children, and  great-grandchildren,  and  all  their 
descendants,  become  faithful  followers  of  the 
blessed  Jesus,  with  those  already  his,  and  remain 
such,  is  our  parental  prayer.  So  shall  we  all  in 
due  time  meet  in  heaven. 

During  the  last  five  years  of  my  itinerancy  in 
Pennsylvania,  my  nervous  system  became  very 
much  disordered,  and  it  was  supposed  that,  if  I 
could  rest  a  while,  I  might  possibly  recruit  my 
shattered  health,  and  nerve  up  again.  Conference 
advised  me  to  try  it,  and  I  located.  But  though 
my  muscular  system  did  recruit,  it  was  not  the 
case  with  my  nervous  system.    My  still  frequent 


JOHN  DREISBACH. 


287 


preaching  was  unfavorable  to  my  complete  recov- 
ery. Hence  I  made  fewer  appointments,  and 
remained  on  the  invalid  list.  Meanwhile,  bv  a 
thoughtless  exposure,  I  was  prostrated  by  a  severe 
inflammatory  affection,  stiffened  in  all  my  joints, 
and  became  completely  helpless.  Oh.  the  pain 
that  I  suffered!  However,  the  good  Lord  in 
mercy  also  delivered  me  out  of  this  affliction. 
After  five  days  and  nights  of  dreadful  suffering  I 
found  relief,  and  after  having  been  for  two  months 
very  much  crippled,  limping  about  on  crutches,  I 
was  again  restored.  Soon  after,  in  1831,  we 
emigrated  from  Pennsylvania  to  Pickaway  Town- 
ship and  County,  Ohio.  During  the  two  first 
years  here  I  preached  but  a  few  times.  After  a 
seasoning,  or  rather  acclimating  by  ague,  my 
health  improved,  and  I  preached  more,  and  enjoyed 
myself  better  in  serving  the  Church  than  I  could 
in  anything  else.  A  preacher  being  needed  on 
Lancaster  and  Pickaway  circuits  in  the  Fall  and 
Winter  of  1839  and  1840,  I  once  more  served  the 
Church  as  a  traveling  preacher  some  five  months, 
but  was  obUged  to  desist  in  consequence  of  an 
attack  of  fever.  Again,  in  1851,  a  preacher  was 
wanted  on  Pickaway  circuit,  and  I  served  between 
two  and  three  months;  but,  as  before,  had  to  yield 
to  bodily  afflictions.  In  July,  1853,  I  accepted 
the  offered  charge  of  the  congregation  at  Dayton, 
Ohio,  and  was  enabled  to  continue  in  the  service 


288 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OP 


till  the  close  of  the  conference  year.  At  the  Con- 
ference held  in  Dayton,  1854,  I  was  put  in  charge 
of  the  Chillicothe  mission,  and  arrived  there  June 
1st,  remaining  until  the  following  October,  when  I 
left  for  Cleveland,  Ohio,  having  been  called  to  take 
editorial  charge  of  the  Evangelical  Messenger.  I 
arrived  there  on  the  25th  of  said  month,  serving 
in  the  above-mentioned  capacity  until  March  18th, 
1857,  being  then,  on  account  of  bodily  infirmity, 
necessitated  to  resign  my  office.  Soon  after  the 
issue  of  my  last  number  of  the  Messenger  we 
removed  to  this  city,  where  we  still  sojourn,  wait- 
ing for  the  coming  of  our  blessed  Lord,  "  Christ 
Jesus,  who  of  God  is  made  unto  us  wisdom,  and 
righteousness,  and  sanctification,  and  redemption." 
"Thanks  be  unto  God  for  his  (this)  unspeakable 
gift."  Thanks  to  God  for  his  free  grace  that 
enables  us  to  embrace  Christ,  by  faith,  as  he  is 
made  unto  us  of  God.  Glory  to  God  for  a  free 
and  full  salvation !  Reader,  believe  it,  pray 
for  it,  and  you  shall  have  it  and  enjoy  it  for- 
ever! 

Behold !  see  what  the  Lord  has  done !  From  a 
small,  a  very  small  beginning,  in  the  daj^s  of  the 
apostles,  millions  have  been  raised  up,  saved,  and 
taken  to  glory,  and  millions  more  are  on  the  way. 
Behold !  see  what  a  blessed  influence  Albright  and 
his  unlettered  preachers  have  exercised  among  the 
masses.    From  three  itinerant  preachers  the  num- 


JOHN  DREISBACH. 


289 


ber  has  increased  to  550 ;  from  220  members  to 
nearly  70,000  !      God  be  praised  for  the  increase  I 
Circleville,  0.,  1869. 

John  Dreisbacli  as  a  Traveling  Preacher. 

In  his  nineteenth  year,  a  tender  ^  outh  who  had 

hardly  been  previously  away  from  the  parental 

home,  Dreisbach  associated  himself  with  the  «Tcatlv 

~  I- 

despised  J.  Albright  to  preach  the  Gospel,  traveling 
throudi  a  rouali  countrv,  and  anions:  a  still 
rougher  people,  who  were  deeply  sunken  in  sin 
and  crime.    What  an  undertaking! 

Besides  the  severe  persecutions  and  the  great 
inconveniences,  he  also  suffered  severe  mental 
trials,  which  he  indicates  in  the  short  sketch  of 
his  life.  Yet  he  pressed  on  and  struggled  through 
all  these  things  by  the  help  of  God,  becoming  a 
faithful  laborer  and  servant  of  Jesus  Christ.  He 
commenced  his  itinerancy  in  1807  with  George 
Miller,  who  had  the  supervision  of  the  '"old  cir- 
cuit," which  extended  into  Dauphin,  Lebanon, 
Lancaster,  Berks,  Bucks,  Montgomery,  North- 
ampton, Lehigh  and  Schuylkill  Counties,  and 
numbered  over  thirty  appointments,  Avliich  were 
from  thirty  to  forty  miles  apart.  During  the 
Winter  Albright  frequently  accompanied  him 
in  his  journeys  and  imparted  to  him  much  valu- 


*  Now  over  120,000. 
19 


290 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OP 


able  advice  and  instruction.  About  this  he  still 
spoke  in  his  old  age  with  a  great  deal  of  emotion. 
He  especially  mentioned  how  patiently,  though  at 
times  feeling  it  very  keenly,  Albright  endured  the 
most  scandalous  lies  and  slanders,  which  were  set 
:afloat  about  him  while  on  his  travels.  On  one  occa- 
sion, while  riding  past  a  tannery  in  Allemengel, 
Berks  County,  the  tanners  stepped  to  the  door  and 

screamed:  "Albright,  you  are  a  !"  (The 

epithet  is  too  indecent  to  be  printed.)  Albright 
turned  around  to  Dreisbach  and  gently  said: 
"  But,  Johnny,  this  is  bitter."  However,  trusting 
in  God,  they  passed  on  without  a  reply. 

On  Easter,  A.  D.  1808,  G.  Miller  and  J.  Dreis- 
bach  were  appointed  by  Albright  to  Northumber- 
land circuit.  While  in  the  act  of  parting  with 
Dreisbach,  A.  said  to  him:  "Strive  even  unto 
blood,  and  press  into  the  kingdom  of  God."  These 
were  Albright's  last  words  to  Dreisbach,  for  soon 
after  he  entered  into  his  eternal  rest. 

On  Christmas,  1808,  G.  Miller  took  very  sick, 
and  left  the  circuit  on  the  26th  of  December,  and 
young  Dreisbach  was  left  alone  on  this  large  field 
of  labor,  which  embraced  Buffalo,  Penn's,  Brush, 
Sugar,  Middle  Creek  and  Dry  Valleys;  but  God 
blessed  his  labors  with  conversions.  M.  Betz,  also 
a  young  man,  was  appointed  to  assist  him.  An  . 
example  of  the  persecutions  which  these  young 
ministers  were  compelled  to  suffer,  the  following 


JOHN  DREISBACH. 


291 


items,  taken  from  the  History  of  the  Evangelical 
Association,  page  48,  will  show: 

"It  was  in  the  month  of  August,  1808,  when 
John  Dreisbach  returned  from  a  general  meeting 
near  Muehlbach,  accompanied  by  a  young  brother, 
Andrew  Wolf,  in  order  to  fill  an  appointment  that 
evening  in  Jonestown,  Lebanon  County,  Pa. ;  but 
as  he  had  been  disturbed  while  preaching  there 
before,  on  his  way  to  said  general  meeting,  it  was 
his  intention  to  preach  to  the  friends  there,  with- 
out giving  public  notice  of  it.  From  fear,  not  of 
the  Jews,  but  of  heathen-like  Christians,  the  doors 
had  been  locked,  and  the  window  shutters  fastened 
inside,  before  the  services  commenced.  After 
singing  and  prayer,  the  sermon  commenced;  but 
as  the  exercises  had,  in  all  probability,  been  heard 
by  some  of  the  adversaries,  a  mob  gathered  in  a 
short  time,  and,  forcing  the  doors  and  shutters 
open,  they  rushed  with  a  dreadful  noise  and  with 
still  more  dreadful  imprecations  into  the  house, 
and  thus  put  a  stoj)  to  the  exercises.  The  preacher 
then  took  a  light  and  went  among  the  crowd  to 
restore  order,  but  was  seized  by  several  ruffians 
and  dragged  toward  the  door ;  at  the  same  time 
they  treated  him  very  roughlj',  and  extinguished  all 
the  lights  in  the  house.  Those  who  dragged  him 
hallooed  to  their  companions,  who  were  outside: 
'Boys,  open  the  door,  ive  have  got  him!'  They 
replied :    ^  Give  it  to  him;  kill  the  priest! '  " 


I 


292                    LIFEANDLABORSOF  j 

"  The  preacher  was  justly  apprehensive  of  still  ! 

worse  treatment,  if  they  should  succeed  in  getting  | 
him  out  of  the  house ;  but  how  to  get  out  of  their 
hands  he  knew  not.    All  at  once  it  flashed  upon 
his  mind,  as  if  God  had  revealed  it  to  him,  that  if 

he  would  jerk  himself  up  with  all  his  might,  and  i 

then  suddenly  fall  down  like  a  log,  he  might  get  ! 

out  of  their  hands.    He  did  so,  and  thus  got  rid  ; 
of  them,  although  he  was  still  among  the  crowd  in 
the  dark.    Now,  as  the  ruffians  were  groping  for 

him,  the}^  got  hold  of  each  other,  letting  torrents  j 

of  blows  descend  on  one  another,  each  fancying.  ; 

that  he  was  giving  it  to  the  i)riest.    But  while  ' 

they  were  thus  regaling  each  other,  to  their  hearts'  j 

content,  with  blows  and  pushes,  he  managed  to  | 

get  out  of  the  crowd,  and  the  mob  got  outdoors.  ] 

Alarmed  for  the  minister,  some  of  the  friends  ] 

hastened  out  also,  but  were  seized  and  very  much  ! 

abused  by  the  mob.    The  landlord,  Father  P.  Wal-  ■ 

ter,  was  so  much  hurt,  that  the  blood  gushed  from  : 

his  mouth  and  nose.    A  sister  was  knocked  down,  ; 

and  carried  into  the  house  for  dead.    And  several  j 

more  friends  were  likewise  very  roughly  dealt  \ 

with.    This  is  one  of  the  many  examples  of  perse-  i 

cution  and  ill-treatment  which  the  first  ministers  ] 
and  members  of  the  Evangelical  Association  often 

experienced.      Similar    occurrences    took   place  \ 

twenty  and  twenty-five  years  later,  in  different  ^ 

places  in  the  Counties  of  Berks  and  Schuylkill^  Pa.  | 


JOHN  DREISBACH. 


293 


"On  the  following  day  the  ring-leaders  of  the 
Jonestown  mob,  seven  in  number,  were  legally 
indicted  by  the  brethren,  and  alterward  delivered 
over  to  the  County  court.  But  they  also  brought 
charges  against  Mr.  Dreisbach  and  some  other 
brethren,  vainly  hoping  to  gain  some  advantages 
thereby ;  and  when  the  case  was  tried  by  the  court 
at  Harrisburo',  it  seemed  at  first  as  if  thev  would 
really  be  benefited  by  it.  But,  after  all,  they  did 
not  gain  their  end:  the  jury  found  them  guilty, 
and  acquitted  the  brethren.  After  the  suit,  the 
brethren  remitted  to  their  persecutors  all  their 
costs,  thus  showing  them  that  they  had  not  brought 
the  suit  against  them  from  malice  or  revenge, 
but  merely  to  teach  them  that  the  Evangelical 
Association  enjoys  the  protection  of  the  laws  not 
less  than  all  other  religious  denominations  of  the 
Union,  and  that  they  were  determined  to  hold 
their  meetings  without  being  disturbed.  The 
favorable  issue  of  this  prosecution  had  a  very  salu- 
tary influence  on  the  public  at  large,  benefiting 
other  denominations  as  well  as  the  Evangelical 
Association.  Prior  to  this  prosecution,  tumults 
and  disturbances  of  religious  meetings  were  very 
frequent,  but  after  this  they  Avere,  for  years,  much 
rarer  and  less  outrageous." 

At  the  Conference  in  1809,  Dreisbach  was  ap- 
pointed, with  M.  Betz  and  11.  Niebel,  to  Schuylkill 
and  Lancaster  circuit.    He  was  also  authorized  to 


294 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


print  a  catechism,  which  he  had  translated  from 
the  English.  Soon  afterwards  G.  Miller,  J.  Walter 
and  J.  Dreisbach  w^ere  ordained  elders,  which  was 
a  solemn  and  blessed  occasion  to  them.  Through 
his  ordination  Dreisbach  felt  himself  entirely  con- 
secrated to  the  Lord  and  his  service  in  the  Gospel, 
and  from  this  time  on  he  labored  with,  much  pleas- 
ure in  the  w^ork  of  the  Lord.  His  labors  during- 
this  time  were  richly  crowned  with  God's  blessing. 

In  1810  J.  Dreisbach  and  J.  Jerlitz  were 
appointed  to  Northumberland  circuit,  and  his 
labors  there  in  the  Lord  were  not  in  vain.  If  so 
happened  during  this  year  that  Bishop  Asburj^,  of 
the  M.  E.  Church,  preached  in  the  town  of 
Halifax,  on  the  Susquehannah  river,  and  the  fol- 
lowing day  Dreisbach,  Asbury  and  H.  Boehm 
traveled  together  down  the  river  towards  Harris- 
burg.  The  interesting  conversation  which  took 
place  between  these  excellent  men  Dreisbach 
related  to  the  author,  and  is  given  substantially  in 
Dreisbach' s  own  language  in  the  History  of  the 
Evangelical  Association,  page  56,  as  follows : 

"After  we  had,  for  some  time,  freely  conversed 
on  various  religious  topics,  the  bishop  made  me  a 
very  liberal  and  respectable  offer,  on  certain  condi- 
tions to  unite  w^ith  his  Church.  I  was  to  withdraw 
from  the  Evangelical  Association,  and  go  with 
them  to  Baltimore  to  attend  their  Conference; 
there  to  join  them,  and  to  travel  a  year  with  Jacob 


JOHN  DREISBACH. 


295 


Gruber,  who  was  then  presiding  elder,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  better  acquainting  myself  with  the  English 
language,  wherein  Bro.  G.  might  be  very  useful  to 
me.  that  I  might  then  be  able  to  preach,  according 
to  circumstances,  ]x)th  in  German  and  Enghsh; 
and  I  was  to  receive  my  salary  as  if  I  had  traveled 
on  a  circuit,  etc.  Moreover,  the  bishop  remarked 
that  by  being  able  to  preach  in  both  languages.  I 
could  make  myself  so  much  more  useful,  and  that 
among  them  there  would  be  less  danger-  of  my 
becoming  self-conceited,  and  to  fall  away,  than  in 
my  present  position,  etc.  But.  however  enticing 
the  ofler  and  truthful  the  statement  of  the  bishop 
was.  yet  I  could  not  determine  in  my  mind  to  take 
such  a  treacherous  step  toward  the  Evangelical 
Association.  I  therefore  told  the  bishop  that  we 
considered  ourselves  called  of  God  to  labor  princi- 
pally among  the  German  population,  and  that 
thus  far  our  labors  had  not  been  in  vain. 

To  this  he  replied  that  the  German  language 
could  not  exist  much  longer  in  this  countrv.  etc. 
I  rejoined  that  if  this  should  ever  be  the  case,  it 
would  then  be  time  enough  to  discontinue  preach- 
ing in  German,  and  gave  it  as  my  opinion  that 
this  would  not  very  soon  occur,  but  that  the 
German  language  would  rather  increase,  at  least 
as  long  as  the  immigration  from  the  old  world 
would  continue.  I  then  srave  him  mv  views,  in 
which  1  expected  my  brethren  to  concur,  and 


296 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


made  him  the  following  ofler :  '  If  you  will  give  us 
German  circuits,  districts  and  conferences,  we  are 
willing  to  make  your  Church  ours,  be  07ie  people 
with  you,  and  have  one  and  the  same  Church 
government.'  '  That  cannot  be — it  would  be  inex- 
]3edient,'  was  the  bishop's  reply." 

After  passing  some  more  remarks  on  this  sub- 
ject, they  finally  took,  not  far  from  Harrisburg,  an 
affectionate  and  cordial  leave  of  each  other,  Avhen 
the  bishop  presented  Mr.  Dreisbach  with  Fletcher's 
portrait  of  St.  Paul,  embraced  him,  and  bade  him 
God-speed  in  his  work.  This  conversation  took 
place  August  2d,  1810,  and  afterward  these  breth- 
ren never  saw  each  other  again. 

The  words  which  Bishop  Asbury  expressed  upon 
the  offer  of  Dreisbacli :  "  That  would  be  inexpe- 
dient," had  a  much  greater  bearing  than  the 
bishop  supposed.  Thereby  both  Churches  were 
kept  separate,  and  the  Evangelical  Association  was 
necessitated,  in  order  to  do  justice  to  her  calling, 
to  labor  on  as  an  indej)endent  denomination,  by 
means  of  which,  no  doubt,  greater  good  was 
accomplished,  especially  among  German  Pennsyl- 
vanians,  and  also  German  immigrants. 

In  1811  Dreisbach,  H.  Niebel  and  M.  Becker 
were  appointed  to  Franklin  and  York  circuit. 
The  brethren  found  access  into  many  new  preach- 
ing places,  and  a  number  of  families  were  converted 
to  God. 


JOHN  DEEISBAOH. 


297 


In  1812  Dreisbach,  with  a  young  colleague,  was 
appointed  to  the  "mission  in  the  State  of  New 
York ; "  but  the  mission  was  discontinued  for  prac- 
tical reasons,  and  then  Dreisbacli  was  sent  to 
Northumberland  circuit.  Daring  this  year  D. 
began  to  suffer  in  body.  Xervous  debility  and 
melancholy,  through  indescribable  struggles,  were 
brought  upon  him,  so  that  he  was  frequently 
driven  to  the  verge  of  despair.  But  God,  in  due 
time,  helped  him  out  of  his  trouble  again,  and 
afterwards  he  was  only  the  more  useful.  These 
severe  trials  worked  together  for  his  good. 

During  the  year  1813,  Dreisbach  and  several 
other  brethren  were  ordered  to  extend  theii'  work 
westward,  forming  new  circuits,  as  also  to  make 
visits  in  an  easterly  direction.  Dreisbacli  pressed 
across  the  Alleghany  mountains,  and  opened  the 
way  into  Western  Pennsylvania  to  Somerset  Co., 
etc.,  and  at  the  next  Conference  he  was  elected 
the  ßrst  presiding  elder  in  the  Evangelical  Associ- 
ation. 

Jolm  Dreisbacli  as  Presiding  Elder. 

In  Aprih  1814,  after  he  had  served  about  seven 
years  as  an  itinerant  minister,  Dreisbacli  was 
elected  presiding  elder  by  an  annual  Conference 
held  in  his  father  s  house.  His  district  embraced 
the  entire  Evangelical  Association  of  that  time. 
It  was  about  three  hundred  miles  long,  and  North 


298 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


and  South  about  one  hundred  miles  in  width.  He 
traveled  it  on  horseback,  and  made  many  and 
difficult  journeys  over  bad  roads  and  through  all 
kinds  of  weather.  He  sought  out  new  preaching 
places  everywhere,  and  preached  nearly  every 
evening  during  the  week,  and  on  Sabbath  daj^s. 
He  was  not  only  chairman  of  the  Quarterly  Con- 
ference, but  also  of  the  Annual  Conference,  and 
had  the  supervision  of  the  entire  work  for  a  whole 
year,  so  that  he  practically  discharged  the  duties 
of  a  bishop  during  the  time,  although  having  never 
been  elected  to  the  office.  At  the  following  Con- 
ference the  work  was  divided  into  two  districts, 
and  H.  Xiebel  elected  as  the  second  presiding 
elder. 

Dreisbach  labored  with  great  success  as  presid- 
ing elder  until  he  was  compelled  to  locate,  in  1821, 
on  account  of  nervous  prostration.  In  1814  he 
attended  four  camp-meetings  and  eight  watch-night 
meetings,  which  were  greatly  blessed  with  awaken- 
ings and  conversions.  About  a  ^'big  meeting," 
which  commenced  on  the  21st  of  May,  at  the  resi- 
dence of  Bro.  Spangler,  in  Brush  Valley,  Pa.,  he 
relates  the  following :  "  I  preached  first  from  this 
passage :  ^  Not  every  one  that  saitJi  unto  me,  Lord^ 
Lord,  shall  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  hut 
he  that  doeth  the  will  of  my  Father  ivhich  is  in 
heaven'  First  I  spoke  of  man's  depraved  self-will ; 
secondly,  of  the  will  of  God;  and  thirdly  of  obey- 


JOHN  DEEISBACH. 


299 


ing  God's  will.  I  felt  very  poor  in  spirit  to-day, 
but  also  greatly  comforted.  I  was  very  much  con- 
cerned for  the  success  of  the  meeting.  Bro.  George 
Miller  preached  from  the  passage:  ^  Let  a  man 
so  account  of  us,  as  of  the  ministers  of  Christ  and 
stewards  of  the  mysteries  of  God.'  I  realized  a 
wonderful  victory,  and  was  greatly  edified  by  Bro. 
Miller's  sermons.  The  Word  of  God  penetrated 
deeply  into  every  heart.  The  friends  realized  the 
need  of  seeking  more  religion.  "  etc. 

Concerning  a  camp-meeting  which  commenced 
on  the  1st  of  June,  in  Conewago.  Pa.,  he  relates 
the  following :  The  friends  assembled  to-day. 
In  the  evening  Bro.  Schauer  preached  and  H. 
Niebel  exhorted.  I  had  great  concern  for  the 
meeting,  and  had  faith  to  believe  that  souls  would 
be  converted  and  sanctified. —  June  2d.  To-day  I 
preached  from  the  passage :  'Seeing  ye  have  jjuri- 
fied  your  souls  in  obeying  the  truth  through  the 
Spirit,'  etc.  I  had  great  grace,  and  felt  much 
concerned  for  the  unconverted.  Some  dropped 
down  like  dead  persons.  The  friends  were  deeply 
convinced  of  the  need  of  sanctification.  At  two 
o'clock  Bro.  Erb  preached  from  the  address  of  Paul 
and  the  alarm  of  Felix.  After  the  sermon  I 
exhorted  penitents  now  to  look  to  Jesus  by  faith, 
and  told  the  friends  that  they  should  believe  unto 
sanctification,  and  requested  all  who  were  willing 
to  do  so,  to  raise  their  hands,  after  which  we 


300 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


engaged  in  prayer.  There  was  a  special  cleansing 
power  of  God  among  us.  Many,  according  to 
their  testimony,  received  the  grace  of  sanctifica- 
tion.  I  do  not  know  whether  I  ever  felt  the 
power  of  God  stronger  in  me  than  to-day,  while 
preaching  on  the  subject  of  holiness.  My  body 
and  soul  were  quickened,  and  I  realized  myself 
what  I  preached  to  others.  God  be  praised  for  it ! 
This  meeting  was  richly  blessed  with  the  experi- 
ence of  conversion  and  sanctification." 

At  a  camp-meeting  held  on  the  land  of  Daniel 
Bertolet,  on  the  31st  of  August,  Dreisbach  preached 
from  1  Tim.  6.  12.  He  "had  great  grace  to 
preach  both  the  law  and  the  Gospel,  to  the  believ- 
ing and  the  unbelieving.  It  had  a  powerful  effect 
unto  the  sanctification  of  many."  At  this  meet- 
ing a  backslidden  minister  was  reclaimed,  and  a 
number  of  sinners  were  converted.  Concerning  an 
experience  meeting  held  during  this  meeting,  he 
says :  "  To  my  recollection  I  have  never  heard 
more  sound  testimonies  of  sanctification  than  at 
this  meeting.  Many  also  felt  the  need  of  it  very 
deeply." 

On  the  31st  of  May,  1815,  a  camp-meeting  com- 
menced in  Jonestown  on  the  land  of  a  man  named 
Faber.  Here  the  preachers  first  consulted  with 
each  other  how  the  meeting  should  be  conducted. 
Dreisbach  preached  from  1  Peter  1.  13-17.  He 
says:    ''God  blessed  me  richlj^  while  preaching 


JOHN  DREISBACH. 


301 


regeneration  and  sanctification  through  faith.. 
Convertmg  and  sanctifying  power  came  upon  us. 
God  be  praised,  it  penetrated  body  and  soul!  I 
beUeve  that  many  of  the  friends  were  renewed  and 
strengthened  in  hoHness."  John  Walter  and  other 
brethren  also  preached  very  successfully  at  this 
meeting.  The  fruit  of  this  meeting  consisted  of 
fourteen  conversions,  and  "  twenty -eight  professed 
sanctification." 

According  to  a  short  report  of  a  camp-meeting 
which  began  on  the  31st  of  August,  1815,  at  Bro. 
Seitz's,  God's  Word  was  richly  blessed.  Dreisbach 
says :  "  God  be  praised  for  his  blessing  and  grace  ! 
Tw^enty-four  souls  were  converted,  and  sixteen 
professed  sanctification." 

On  the  30th  of  November,  1815,  Dreisbach  went 
to  Philadelphia  "to  buy  a  printing-press  for  the 
Association,"  ^vhich  he  purposed  to  donate  to  the 
Church.  During  this  business  transaction  "the 
Lord  stood  by  him,  and  he  realized  divine  peace." 
The  printing-press,  types,  etc.,  cost  $366,  the  box 
into  which  the  things  were  packed  cost  $3.64, 
journey  and  lodging  in  Philadelphia  $5.30,  a  strap 
for  the  box  14  cents.  Total  $375.08.  This  was 
the  heginning  of  the  Publishing  House  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Association!  What  a  difference  between 
then  and  now  !  Dreisbach  certainly  could  not  have 
the  faintest  idea  of  the  large  business  which  would 
grow  from  such  a  small  beginning! 


302 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


On  the  10th  of  August,  1817,  he  wrote  the  fol- 
lowing lines : 

"Mein  Leben  heisst  ein  Wandern, 
Ein  Tag,  der  folgt  dem  andern, 
Ich  eiV  zur  Ewigkeit, 
Mein  Eilgerlauf  geht  täglich  fort 
Aus  einem  in  den  andern  Ort, 
Bis  ich  verlass  die  Zeit. 

"Dann  erst  ist  mein  TagiverJc  aus, 
Wann  ich  komm  ins  Vaterhaus, 
In  das  verheissne  Erbe; 
0  Jesu  Christe,  steh  mir  bei 
Und  mache  mich  vom  TJebel  frei, 
Damit  ich  selig  sterbet  . 

Johannes  Dreisbach. 

Thus  this  servant  of  Christ  traveled  from  place 
io  place,  preaching  the  Gospel  of  God  to  his  fellow- 
men,  to  the  salvation  of  many  souls,  and  the 
upbuilding  of  the  work  of  God.  Professors  of 
religion  were  earnestly  and  clearly  taught  the 
necessity  of  growth  in  grace  and  of  following  after 
holiness,  and  not  without  fruity  as  his  camp-meet- 
ing reports  abundantly  prove.  The  doctrine  of 
entire  sanctification  was  preached  distinctly,  and 
occasionally  energetic  measures  were  adopted. 
Seekers  of  sanctification  were  called  to  the  altar, 


JOHN  DREISBACH. 


303 


specially  to  pray  for  this  grace,  and  sometimes 
they  were  also  requested  to  express  their  deter- 
mination and  the  experience  of  a  present  faith  in 
Christ  as  their  sanctification  by  raising  their  hands, 
which  was  frequently  followed  by  mighty  outpour- 
ings of  the  grace  of  God.  Of  course,  this  never 
became  a  '  stereotyped  method,  but  other  means 
were  also  adopted,  as  time  and  circumstances 
seemed  to  require,  and  as  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord 
directed.  Definite  measures,  which  are  judicious 
and  adapted,  either  while  laboring  w^ith  sinners  or 
Christians,  are  old-evangelical,  as  well  as  Biblical. 

Dreisbach  very  frequently  consulted  his  brethren 
in  the  ministry  as  to  the  best  means  and  methods 
to  be  used  to  further  the  work  of  the  Lord,  especi- 
ally when  they  were  together  at  camp-meetings. 
An  excellent  example  for  imitation.  The  work 
on  such  occasions  lay  so  heavilj'  upon  his  heart, 
that  at  times  at  the  beginning  of  the  meetings,  he 
would  be  literally  bowed  down."  But  there  also 
usually  followed  a  mighty  victory  of  the  Gospel  in 
the  camp  in  the  conversion  of  sinners  and  the 
sanctification  of  believers.  Here  all  levity  and 
endeavors  to  preach  great  sermons  were  discarded. 

At  quarterly  Conferences  Dreisbach  thoroughly 
examined  the  condition  of  the  work,  and  gave 
instructions  to  preachers  and  officers  in  the 
Church,  and  corrections,  w^ien  necessary,  in  such  a 
manner  that  they  were  not  soon  forgotten.  He 


304  lifeandLaboesof 

often  observed  fast-days  during  his  arduous  travels^ 
and  prayed  much  with  tears  for  the  salvation  of 
sinners.  He  read  his  Bible  faithfully,  as  also  the 
works  of  Wesley,  Fletcher,  Luther,  Calvin,  Antonii^ 
Kempis  and  others.  Besides  his  arduous  laborS: 
upon  his  district,  he  was  active  in  visiting  people 
at  their  homes,  endeavoring  to  lead  them  to  Christ. 
Frequently  he  made  missionary  journeys  beyond 
the  borders  of  his  district  into  new  localities,  even 
into  Canada,  and  took  up  new  appointments. 
Such  labors  of  this  first  presiding  elder  of  the 
Evangelical  Association  were  not  in  vain  in  the 
Lord.  May  all  his  successors  in  office  follow  him, 
as  he  followed  Christ,  then  their  labor  will  be 
constantly  accompanied  with  blessing,  and  we  will 
not  soon  again  hear  the  proposition  to  abolish  the 
office  of  presiding  elder! 

Dreisbach  as  a  Preacher. 

Dreisbach  studied  his  texts  and  prayed  much  for 
light  and  the  anointing  from  above.  His  good  com- 
mon-sense led  him  to  arrange  his  texts  well,  in  order 
to  present  them  clearly  to  his  hearers.  It  is  said 
that  good  arrangement  and  comprehensiveness- 
were  prominent  characteristics  of  h*s  sermons. 
The  fall  of  man,  redemption  through  Christ,  the 
law  and  the  Gospel,  were  his  principal  subjects. 
His  gestures  and  manner  of  expression  corre- 


JOHN  DREISBACH.  305  1 

sponded  with  the  subject   under   consideration.  j 

When  preaching  about  the  enormity  of  sin  and  ! 

the  terror  of  the  law,  his  countenance,  which  j 

otherwise  was  always  cheerful,  assumed  a  very  ' 

stern  expression,  his  voice  became  penetrating,  ' 
and  out  of  his  large,  clear  eyes  holy  earnestness 

beamed  forth  on  his  hearers.  It  often  happened  ^ 
that  the  unconverted  were  so  affected  and  wrought 

upon  under  his  preaching,  that  they  sank  help-  \ 

lessly  to  the  ground  and  commenced  to  cry  for  ; 

mercy.    On  the  other  hand  he  spoke  to  penitents  | 

and  brethren  in  Christ  of  Jesus  and  his  full  salva-  j 

tion  with  the  tenderest  look,  voice  and  expression.  j 

He  preached  to  Christians  the  need  and  privilege  1 

of  entire  sanctification,  self-denial,  and  following  ; 

Christ,  with  no  little  success,  especially  at  general  | 

and  camp-meetings.    In  his  conduct  he  was  not  \ 

only  unblamable,  but  also  an  example  to  all.    His  i 

manly  presence,  his  earnest  piety,  his  faithful  dis-  \ 

charge  of  duty,  and  his  exemplary  conduct  made  j 

him  a  man  of  great  influence,  so  that  it  could  be  j 

said  of  him,  both  as  a  Christian  and  a  minister,  he  ' 
was  "  a  burning  and  shining  light,"  both  for  the 
Church  and  the  world. 

An  Important  Letter.  | 

In  1869  Father  Dreisbach  wrote  a  very  impor- 
tant letter  to  the  author,  in  which  he  expressed  his  i 
20  i 


306 


LIFE  AND  LABOES  OF 


great  joy  over  the  so-called  "holiness  movement," 
through  which  an  earnest  seeking  and  striving 
to  apprehend  Christ  as  a  perfect  Saviour,  as  he 
is  made  unto  us  of  God  sanctification  was  origin- 
ated, and  closes  with  the  pithy  and  strong  exposi- 
tion relative  to  the  doctrine  of  sanctification  as 
contained  in  the  Discipline  as  follows : 

"With  reference  to  writing  for  The  Living 
Epistle,  let  me  say  to  you  that  my  physical  condi- 
tion is  such  that  I  must  most  respectfully  decline 
the  honor  and  good  opportunity  of  assisting  in  so 
promising  an  enterprise  for  the  promotion  of  many 
Christians  to  higher  enjoyments  in  divine  life  and 
true  piety,  by  an  entire  consecration  of  themselves 
to  God  through  faith  in  Christ,  and  of  gathering 
in  many  of  those  who  are  yet  strangers  to  the  con- 
verting and  saving  grace  of  God  in  Christ.  It 
makes  my  old  heart  glad  to  learn  of  the  strong 
help  of  correspondents  from  the  published  list  of 
names.  Perhaps,  if  spared,  I  may  be  enabled  in 
future  to  throw  in  some  crumbs.  Do  not  look  for 
much,  and  you  will  not  be  disappointed." 

"The  doctrine  of  Christian  Perfection  in  our 
Discipline  from  the  beginning,  was  by  the  Fathers 
considered  and  held  as  the  established  and  standing 
doctrine  of  the  Evangelical  Association  on  Chris- 


JOHN  DREISBÄCH. 


307 


tian  Sanctification,  as  "  the  basis  of  Christian  Per- 
fection ; '  and  I  hope  our  Church  will  ever  hold 
this  truly  Biblical  doctrine,  faithfully  teaching  and 
living  it,  to  the  honor  and  glory  of  God.  The 
Holy  Spirit  sanctify  our  ministers  and  the  laity,  is 
my  prayer;  and  this  he  will  certainly  do  as  soon 
as  they  by  faith  consecrate  themselves  entirely  to 
God  in  his  blessed  service. 

"'But  if  there  ever  shall  be  a  time  when  the 
Evangelical  Association  rejects  this  doctrine,  and 
discards  it,  then  should  'Ichabod'  be  written  in 
place  thereof ;  for  then  ^  the  glory  is  departed 
from  Israel.'  Let  us,  however,  hope  and  pray  in 
faith  that  this  may  never  be  the  case,  but  that 
Israel  may  go  up  and  possess  the  land,  and  God 
mav  be  forever  «iorified." 

These  few  lines  contain  a  clear  and  very  signifi- 
cant testimony  for  the  doctrine  of  sanctification.  as 
we  had  it  from  the  beginning  in  our  Discipline, 
and  which  shall  also  be  adhered  to,  as  the  General 
Conference  of  1867  unanimously  resolved.  To 
this  let  the  ministrv  of  the  EvamreUcal  Association 
at  all  times  say,  Yea  and  Amen ! 

Jolm  Dreisbach  as  a  Member  of  General  Conference. 

As  a  matter  of  course.  Father  Dreisbach  Avas 
alwavs  elected  a  deleo^ate  to  General  Conference, 
where  he  was  regarded  and  treated  as  "  the  patri- 


308 


LIPE  AND  LABORS  OF 


arch"  of  the  Evangelical  Association.  His  coun- 
sel and  advice  were  always  useful  and  well 
received  by  that  body,  although  in  later  years  he 
was  somewhat  reserved,  as  he  had  not  been  able 
regularly  to  labor  as  an  itinerant  for  many  years. 
However,  he  always,  upon  such  occasions,  expressed 
his  grateful  acknowledgments  to  God,  and  his 
great  joy  on  being  permitted  to  see  with  his  own 
eyes  how  gloriously  the  work  had  prospered,  and 
how  much  it  promised  for  the  future,  especially 
in  view  of  his  own  experience  in  the  day  of  small 
things.  At  the  General  Conference,  held  in  Buffalo, 
N.  Y.,  in  1863,  he  was  called  upon  at  the  opening 
of  the  session  to  deliver  an  address,  of  which  the 
following  is  an  abstract : 

"  Beloved  Brethren,  and  who  am  I,  that  I  should 
arise  here  among  you,  and  address  you ! 

"It  is  so  long  since  I  have  been  in  the  active 
service,  that,  as  compared  to  you,  I  feel  so  insig- 
nificant, that  I  would  much  rather  sit  at  your  feet, 
than  speak  before  you.  Bodily  I  can  be  no  longer 
with  you  in  the  work,  but  in  spirit  I  am  still  with 
you,  and  rejoice  in  the  glorious  success  that  has 
thus  far  crowned  your  labors  in  the  Lord.  And 
truly  the  Lord  has  done  great  things  for  us.  I 
remember  right  well  when  we  were  yet  but  a  little 
flock,  and  almost  every  body  thought  he  had  a 
right  to  tread  us  under  foot  —  it  was  the  time  of 
our  great  trials  and  insignificance;  and  when  I 


JOHN  DEEISBACH. 


309 


think  of  it,  I  am  astonished  at  the  great  things  the 
Lord  has  done  for  us.  The  instrumentaUties  were 
so  few,  feeble,  and  unassuming,  that  it  is  a  miracle 
that  so  much  has  been  accomplished.  The  Lord 
has  done  it.  We  had  neither  depth  of  knowledge 
nor  scientific  attainments,  but  we  put  our  trust  in 
the  Lord,  he  has  helped  us,  and  sinners  have  been 
converted  to  God. 

"The  Evangelical  Association  may  aptly  be 
compared  to  a  grain  of  mustard  seed.  How  small 
it  is,  and  yet  it  grows  up  to  be  a  large  tree ;  and 
thus  small  was  the  beginning  of  our  Association, 
and  now  it  has  grown  uj)  to  be  a  stately  tree, 
under  which  we  dwell  and  rejoice  in  our  security. 

"I  rejoice  to  see  so  many  capable  men  before 
me.  I  am  no  phrenologist,  or  physiognomist,  and 
make  no  pretensions  to  other  branches  of  the 
higher  sciences;  yet  I  believe  I  have  some  ability 
in  judging  men  by  their  outward  appearance,  and 
I  must  say  that  the  external  appearance  of  this 
honorable  body  has  made  a  most  favorable  impres- 
sion upon  me.  I  have  great  hopes  for  the  future 
of  the  Evangelical  Association. 

"But,  brethren,  w^hile  I  duly  appreciate  and 
inwardly  rejoice  over  the  enlarged,  yet  by  the 
grace  of  God  self-secured  ministerial  abilitj^  that  you 
possess,  as  compared  with  us  old  ones,  I  would  yet 
put  you  in  remembrance  of  tho  important  fact, 
that  to  be  endowed  from  alj)0ve  is  indispensable  to 


310 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


the  right  discharge  of  every  official  duty.  Grace 
converts  the  sinners,  sanctifies,  and  builds  up  the 
household  of  faith. 

Brethren!  Love  one  another.  Stand  up  for 
one  another.  If  the  character  of  one  brother  is 
assailed,  or  if  he  suffers  in  any  other  wise,  then 
stand  up  for  him,  though  he  be  the  least  of  all; 
for  in  this  wise  many  a  brother,  who  else  would 
have  to  go  under,  can  be  happily  saved,  and  may 
subsequently  become  a  highly  useful  servant  of  the 
Church  —  harmony,  too,  will  thus  be  strengthened, 
and  thus  our  power  for  good  increased. 

Greatly  do  I  rejoice  in  the  glorious  success  of 
our  foreign  missions.  When  they  were  first  opened 
I  feared  it  was  premature ;  but  the  success  of  the 
enterprise  has  justified  it  in  a  high  degree.  My 
wish  and  desire  is,  that  our  mission  in  the 
fatherland  might  be  so  strengthened  and  carried 
forward,  that  our  Evangelical  Association  might 
become  a  great  blessmg  to  the  same.  As  regards 
a  Heathen  Mission,  I  also  think  it  is  yet  rather 
early  for  us  to  open  it,  especially  so  in  view  of  the 
fact  that  the  much  desired  and  earnestly  prayed 
for  successful  termination  of  our  present  war,  will 
open  before  us  large  doors  of  entrance  in  the  South, 
and  particulaily  in  the  West,  where  our  utmost 
efforts  will  be  taxed,  and  where  we,  with  less  cost 
and  exertion,  can  undoubtedly  achieve  more  than 
in  the  distant  heathen  lands. 


JOHN  DEEISBACH. 


311 


"  True  it  is,  that  in  the  kingdom  of  God  more 
depends  upon  faith  than  upon  external  means, 
nevertheless  for  Church  enterprises,  a  Church's 
ability  must  also  be  taken  into  account,  and  the 
wonders  of  faith  occur  oftener  in  the  personal 
experience  of  Christians  than  in  Church  enter- 
prises. I  believe  we  should  direct  our  chief  atten- 
tion to  the  great  and  continually  opening  West; 
but  may  the  Lord  hasten  the  time  that  we  may 
also  bring  to  the  heathen  his  great  salvation. 

"  Soon,  soon  shall  I  be  gathered  to  my  fathers, 
and  I  testify  here  and  now,  that  I  hope  for  salva^ 
tion  only  through  the  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ." 

At  the  following  General  Conference,  held  in 
Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  in  1867,  Dreisbach  was  present 
for  the  last  time,  and  took  an  active  and  deep 
interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  Church.  As  at  that 
Conference  a  crisis  had  come,  relative  to  the 
doctrine  of  entire  sanctification,  different  doctrinal 
views  being  presented,  it  grieved  his  paternal 
heart  very  much.  With  sorrowful  expression  he 
one  day  addressed  the  writer :  Bro.  Yeakel, 
where  do  you  think  this  will  end?"  To  the 
answer:  '^God  watches  over  us,  and  he  will 
guide  all  things  right,"  he  gave  his  hopeful 
acquiesence.  And  as  it  was  afterwards  unani- 
mously resolved  to  hold  fast  the  doctrine  of  the 
fathers  as  recorded  in  our  Discipline,  he  rejoiced 


312 


LIFE  AND  LABOES  OF 


most  heartily  over  it.  At  the  close  of  that  Confer- 
ence, he  offered  the  closing  prayer,  which,  no 
doubt,  will  be  long  remembered  by  many.  As  a 
father  prays  for  his  children,  so  he  prayed  for  the 
delegates  and  their  co-laborers  in  the  vineyard  of 
the  Lord,  until  all  over  the  house  tears  flowed 
freely.  Such  simplicity,  assurance  and  solicitude 
for  the  work  of  God,  combined  with  a  strong  assur- 
ance of  faith  in  the  great  Head  of  the  Church  for 
her  future,  was  a  fitting  close  of  his  connection 
with  the  General  Conference  of  the  Evangelical 
Association. 

Dreisbach  as  a  Poet. 

John  Dreisbach  was  blessed  with  a  variety  of 
excellent  gifts,  among  which  rmay  also  be  named 
his  not  insignificant  poetical  talent.  He  left 
among  his  effects  a  record  of  the  hymns  which  he 
composed  and  translated,  and  which  in  due  time 
appeared  in  the  "Evangelical  Hymn-Book,"  and 
in  the  "Spiritual  Viole/'  as  follows: 

(^In  the  'Evangelical  Hymn-Book.^ 

1.  Ich  bin  der  Herr  dein  Gott. 

2.  In  Christo  Euh'  verheissen  ist. 

3.  Dreiein'ger  Gott,  wir  Aveihen  dir. 

4.  Zum  Gottesdienst  bin  ich  geboren. 

(/ti  the  ''Spiritual  Viole.'') 

5.  Die  Welt  vergeht  am  Ende. 

6.  Blast  die  Trompeten,  blast.  (Transl.) 


JOHN  DEEI3BACH. 


313 


7.  0  freudenvoller  Gnadenthron. 

8.  0  hoere  doch,  du  Menschenkind! 

9.  Ihr  jungen  Leute,  merket  auf! 

10.  Komm  Jung,  komm  Alt,  zum  Gnadenbrunn. 

11.  Kommt,  Menschen,  lasst  uns  sehen. 

12.  O  Jesu,  komm  doch  selbst  zu  mir. 

13.  Schaff  in  mir,  Gott,  zu  deinem  Dienst.  (Transl.) 

14.  Die  Xacht  der  Suenden  ist  nun  fort.  (Transl.) 

15.  Jesu,  0  suesse  Liebe  du! 

16.  Liebe  Brueder  auf  der  Reise. 

17.  Hoert,  wie  die  Waechter  schrei'n.  (Transl.) 

18.  Ihr  Zionshelden,  auf  zum  Streit! 

19.  Dornig  ist  die  finstre  Wueste. 

20.  Gott  fordert  allererst  von  uns. 

21.  Wir  reisen  heim  zum  Himmel  fort.  (Transl.) 

22.  Kommt  fort,  Gesellen,  in  Truebsal.  (Transl.) 

23.  Ich  will  mich  nun  vergleichen. 

24.  Ich  bin  ein  armer  Pilger. 

25.  Acli  meine  Seele,  denke  nach. 

26.  Mein'  SeeU  ist  so  herrlich.  (Transl.) 

27.  Den  Weisen  schien  ein  neuer  Stern. 

28.  Herr  Jesu  Christ,  0  Gottes  Lamm  I 

29.  Verrathen  ward  des  Menschen  Sohn.  (Transl.) 

30.  Schau  dort,  mein  Heiland.  (Transl.) 

31.  Ich  weiss  ein  Land  voll  reiner  Freud'.  (Transl.) 

32.  Jetzt  scheiden  wir  dem  Leibe  nach. 

33.  Nun,  liebe  Brueder,  scheiden  wir. 

34.  Wie  praechtig  ist  der  Nam'.  (Transl.) 

35.  0  Schoepfer  aller  Creatur. 

The  above  list  extends  to  1863,  but  it  does  not 
contain  the  English  hymns  which  Dreisbach  com- 
posed before  and  after  that  time.  Among  the 
above  there  are  some  very  excellent  hymns,  which 


314  LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 

appear  in  the  last  issue  of  the  greatly  improved 
German  Hymn-Book  of  the  Evangelical  Associa- 
tion, as,  for  instance :  "  Ich  bin  der  Herr,  dein 
Gott;"  "In  Christo  Ruh' verheissen  ist;"  "Drei- 
ein'ger  Gott,  wir  weihen  dir ;"  "  Komm  Jung,  komm 
Alt,  zum  Gnadenbrunn,"  etc.  So  also  among  hi& 
translations,  as :  "  Ich  weiss  ein  Land  voll  reiner 
Freud';"  "Die  Nacht  der  Suenden  ist  nun  fort," 
etc.  Through  these  useful  hymns  Father  Dreis- 
bach still  speaks  and  sings  upon  earth  to  the  glory 
of  God  and  the  edification  of  believers,  and  at  the 
throne  of  God  he  unites  with  the  great  company 
of  harpers  in  singing  in  perfection  throughout  eter- 
nity the  song  of  Moses  and  the  Lamb. 

John  Dreisbach  as  a  Statesman. 

As  the  reader  has  learned  from  his  short  auto- 
biography.  Father  Dreisbach  was  obliged  to  locate 
after  he  had  spent  a  number  of  years  in  the  itin- 
erant  ministry,  and  as  presiding  elder  had  done 
hard  work  in  the  vineyard  of  Christ.  In  the 
neighborhood  in  which  he  resided  he  was  gener- 
all}^  respected  on  account  of  his  talents,  his  noble 
character  and  true  piety.  His  person,  manner  of 
life  and  influence  were  of  such  a  nature  that  he 
was  universally  esteemed.  He  had  a  patriarchal 
appearance.  His  neighbors  and  friends  came  to 
the  conclusion  that  he  was  a  proper  person  to  rep« 


JOHN  DREISBACH. 


315 


resent  them  in  the  Legislature  of  Pennsj^lvania, 
and  they  nominated  him  as  candidate  of  his 
district  for  the  House  of  Representatives  of  Penn« 
sylvania,  and  he  was  elected  by  a  large  majority. 
He  served  two  years,  viz.:  1828  and  1829,  as 
Representative,  and  exerted  a  good  influence  upon 
his  colleagues. 

Many  years  ago  the  writer  heard  a  respectable 
gentleman,  who  had  served  as  Representative  with 
Dreisbach,  speak  of  him  very  favorably,  eulogizing 
his  good  sense  and  noble  bearing.  This  gentleman 
also  remarked  that  Dreisbach  reproved  sin.  and  at 
his  boarding-place  he  was  sometimes  found  in  his 
room  upon  his  knees,  which  made  a  good  impres- 
sion. 

While  he  was  in  Harrisburg,  he  frequenth'  went 
upon  adjoining  circuits  on  the  Sabbath-day  and 
assisted  in  the  services  of  the  Master.  At  that 
time  there  arose  in  Pennsylvania  and  other  States 
a  strong  movement  against  *•  Free  Masonry,"  and 
as  he  was  called  upon  publicly  to  express  himself, 
he  took  a  strong  position  against  it,  and  was 
defeated  in  1830,  as  an  anti-Mason  candidate, 
through  political  party  influence,  and  that  closed 
his  political  career. 

It  is  truly  remarkable,  that,  while  the  ministers 
of  the  Evangelical  Association  in  Eastern  Penn- 
sylvania were  violently  persecuted  and  branded  as 
heretics,  false   prophets,  as  a  fanatical  rabble, 


316 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


which  should  be  exterminated  from  the  earth — 
some  even  held  thej  would  bring  on  the  seven- 
headed  beast  and  the  end  of  the  world — yet  one 
of  their  leading  men  sat  in  the  halls  of  the  Legis- 
lature at  Harrisburg,  and  secured  for  himself  the 
honest  respect  of  the  law-makers,  and  exerted  a 
good  influence  among  them !  Those  were  peculiar 
times.  But  that  kind  of  spiritual  darkness  has 
long  ago  been  driven  from  the  land,  and  this  was 
largely  accomplished  through  the  blessed  labors  of 
the  Evangelical  preachers. 

John  Dreisbach  as  a  Literary  Man. 

Our  beloved  Dreisbach  was  not  by  any  means  a 
classical  scholar,  but  in  every  respect  a  self-made 
man,  who  had  been  surrounded  with  many  unfav- 
orable circumstances,  which  hindered  him  in  his 
studies.  Still,  he  acquired  a  pretty  thorough 
knowledge  of  both  the  English  and  the  German 
languages,  so  that  he  could  speak  both  fluently  and 
write  them  correctly.  During  the  first  years  of 
his  itinerancy,  while  still  a  mere  youth,  he  trans- 
lated a  Catechism  from  the  English  into  the  Ger- 
man language,  which  was  printed  in  1809  for  the 
use  of  the  Evangelical  Association.  In  1816  he 
prepared,  with  the  assistance  of  H.  Niebel,  the 
''Geistliche  Saite7ispieV^  (Spiritual  Psaltery)  in 
"complete  book  form,"  as  the  Conference  had 
ordered,  which  was  the  first  regular  Hymn-Book 


JOHN  DREISBACH. 


317 


of  our  Church.  It  was  received  with  much  favor^ 
and  became  a  great  blessing  to  the  Association. 
During  this  year,  with  the  assistance  of  H.  Niebel^ 
Dreisbach  also  completed  the  revision  of  the  Disci- 
pline after  George  Miller's  death^  on  which  Miller 
had  done  the  preparatory^  work.  In  1830  H. 
Niebel  and  Dreisbach  were  appointed  a  committee 
closely-  to  examine  the  amendments  and  changes 
of  the  Discipline  adopted  by  General  Conference, 
as  also  the  translation  of  it  into  the  English  lan- 
guage. 

Dreisbach  wrote  many  excellent  and  instructive 
articles  for  the  Christliche  Botschafter  and  the 
Evangelical  Messenger.  He  also  drafted  the  form 
of  a  Conference  seal,  which  is  found  upon  the 
licenses  of  the  preachers  of  the  Evangelical  Asso- 
ciation. For  a  certain  reason  he  afterwards  wrote 
the  following  explanation  of  it  for  the  Christliche 
Botschafter. 

"  Conference  Seal  of  the  Evangelical  Association, 

"Worthy  Editor: 

"  It  may  not  be  unaccept- 
able to  many  of  your  readers, 
to  see  an  interpretation  of 
the  symbolical  picture  of  our 
Conference  Seal  in  the  Bot- 
schafter; however,  I  leave  it 
to  your  discretion  whether  or 


318 


LIFE  AND  LABORS  OF 


not  to  publish  the  following :  Here  are  three  cir- 
cles, one  within  the  other;  the  outer  circle  is  full 
of  points  clear  around,  in  the  center  of  the  seal 
there  is  a  cross,  and  between  the  circles  these 
words  are  found  in  Roman  Letters :  'Evangelical 
Association  Conference  Seal'  All  these  things 
have  their  meaning :  the  three  circles  represent 
the  Holy  Trinity,  for  there  are  three  that  witness 
in  heaven,  the  Father,  the  Word,  and  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and  these  three  are  one.  1  John  5.  7. 
That  the  Evangelical  Association  is  engraven 
between  these  circles,  represents  that  she  confesses 
the  triune  God  as  her  God,  and  that  he  owns  her 
as  a  branch  of  his  Church.  But  that  the  Confer- 
ence is  found  nearer  the  center  of  the  Seal  than 
Association,  is  to  signify  that  the  ministry  especi- 
ally must  be  closely  united  and  covenanted  with 
God,  if  the  Association  is  to  be  really  prosperous 
in  his  service. 

"  The  cross  is  to  remind  us  of  the  atoning  death 
of  Christ,  his  offices  and  the  doctrine  of  the 
atonement.  Its  being  placed  in  the  center  of  the 
seal  is  to  signify  that  all  our  teaching  must  con- 
centrate in  Christ,  the  Crucified  One,  and  must 
cluster  around  him,  in  order  to  be  able  to  preach 
an  unadulterated  Gospel,  and  that  we,  as  an  Asso- 
ciation, will  follow  Christ  in  child-like  self-denial 
and  in  the  daily  bearing  of  the  cross.  It  also 
indicates  that  Christ  is  not  only  the  Creator  and 


JOHN  DßEISBACH. 


319 


Preserver  of  the  Universe,  but  is  also  our  only 
Redeemer,  through  whom  all  bodily  and  spiritual 
blessings  flow  to  us,  and  that  he  is  also  worthy  to 
receive  honor  and  adoration  from  all  his  rational 
creatures,  and  that  to  him,  as  the  fountain-head  of 
all  good,  all  thanks  and  praise  shall  be  given. 
And  finall}^,  as  regards  the  points  at  the  border  of 
the  outer  circle,  they  are  to  signify,  that  we  are 
called  of  God  to  proclaim  the  Gospel  of  the  Cruci- 
fied One,  in  all  parts  of  the  world,  as  far  as  is  pos- 
sible for  us. 

"  Whoever  reads  this  brief  explanation,  can  see 
what  the  founders  of  our  Church  had  in  view,  and 
it  also  furnishes  to  each  and  all  who  are  connected 
with  us,  an  opportunity  to  examine  himself, 
whether  the  same  object  is  truly  kept  in  view  or 
not.  John  Dreisbach. 

Pickaway  County,  Ohio,  Jan.  5th,  1846." 

In  1820  Dreisbach  published  a  plain  sermon  in 
pamphlet  form,  on  "Slander,"  which  had  a  good 
effect.  During  October,  1854,  he  moved  to  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  as  Editor  of  the  '^Evangelical  Messenger,'' 
to  which  position  he  had  been  elected  shortly  be- 
fore. He  served  in  this  capacity  until  the  18th 
of  April,  1857,  when  he  was  compelled  to  resign 
his  office  on  account  of  bodily  infirmities. 

Father  Dreisbach  was  a  good,  practical  editor, 
and  made  the  paper  useful  and  edifying  to  the 


320 


LIFE  AND  LABOES  OF 


Church.  On  account  of  age  and  feeble  health,  he 
was  not  able  to  accomplish  great  things  in  the  edi- 
torial chair,  but  what  he  wrote  was  pure  and 
wholesome  doctrine.  He  furnished  the  Church 
with  a  good  paper.  His  labors  in  this  respect  were 
not  in  vain. 

Father  Dreisbach's  Departure. 

After  this  man  of  God  had  seen  the  work  of  the 
Lord  in  the  Evangelical  Association  from  child- 
hood up,  and  labored  in  it  for  many  years,  the 
time  finally  arrived  when  he,  too,  could  say :  "Lord, 
now  lettest  thou  thy  servant  depart  in  peace,  for 
my  eyes  have  seen  thy  salvation."  His  last  sick- 
ness continued  about  five  weeks,  and  at  times  was 
very  painful.  But  under  the  greatest  sufferings 
he  was  an  example  of  Christian  patience  and 
gentleness.  He  was  entirely  submissive  to  God, 
ready  to  live  or  die  according  to  his  will.  In  the 
report  of  his  decease,  among  other  things  the  fol- 
lowing is  mentioned:  "It  was  a  great  privilege 
to  see  how  this  veteran  of  the  cross  of  Christ 
descended  into  the  Jordan  of  death,  comforted  in 
the  full  assurance  of  faith  and  undisturbed  peace 
in  Christ.  Having  committed  himself  to  his 
Saviour,  he  fell  asleep  in  his  arms.  During  the 
last  few  days  he  could  hardly  speak  in  an  audible 
voice.    About  five  minutes  before  his  departure 


JOHN  DREISBACH. 


321 


the  arrow  of  death  struck  him,  and  he  soon  after 
ceased  to  breathe."  He  died  on  the  20th  of 
August,  1871,  aged  82  years,  2  months  and  15 
days. 

Father  D.'s  funeral  was  attended  by  a  Large  con- 
course of  people.  The  funeral  sermon  was  delivered 
by  Rev.  J.  Lerch,  from  Numbers  23.  10 :  "Let  me 
die  the  death  of  the  righteous,  and  let  my  last  end 
be  like  his."  His  remains  were  interred  in  the 
Ebenezer  cemetery,  about  two  miles  from  Circle- 
ville,  in  the  State  of  Ohio,  where  his  dust  rests, 
until  the  resurrection  morn,  when  his  body  shall 
rise  in  honor  and  glory.  What  a  triumph  it  will 
then  be,  when  x\lbright,  Walter,  Miller  and  Di'eis- 
bach,  with  glorified  bodies,  shall  greet  each  other, 
and,  with  an  innumerable  host  of  believers,  who 
overcame  through  the  blood  of  the  Lamb,  shall 
stand  upon  their  graves  and  victoriously  join  in 
Paul's  shout  of  triumph  :  "  0  death,  where  is  thy 
sting?  O  grave,  where  is  thy  victory?  But 
thanks  be  to  God,  which  giveth  us  the  victory 
through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 


SUMMARY  APPENDIX. 


GENERAL  REVIEW. 


FTER  the  editor  and  the  reader  have  now 


considered  the  facts  and  incidents  connected 
with  the  life  and  labors  of  the  sainted  Albright 
and  his  co-laborers,  we  will  now  review  the  whole 
in  the  briefest  possible  way,  in  the  light  of  the 
Scriptures  and  the  providence  of  God. 

"  If  this  counsel  or  this  work  be  of  men,  it  will 
come  to  nought.  But  if  it  be  of  God,  ye  cannot 
overthrow  it."  These  truthful  and  wise  words  of 
Gamaliel,  the  teacher  of  Paul,  prove  that  the 
Evangelical  Association  is  not  a  work  of  man — for 
she  has  not  come  to  nought — but  that  she  is  a  work 
of  God,  hence  could  not  be  extinguished,  even 
through  the  most  violent  persecutions  and  opposi- 
tion. Since  the  work  is  of  God,  he  also  chose  and 
qualified  his  "vessels"  to  commence  and  continue 
his  work. 

The  Lord  awakened  Jacob  Albright  and  led 
him  to  ^  living  knowledge  of  himself,  and  a  genu- 
ine experience  of  true  religion,  and  constrained 


323 


324 


SUMMARY  APPENDIX. 


him  to  go  out  into  the  Gospel  field  to  lead  others 
to  the  same  light  and  salvation,  which  was  at  that 
time  almost  something  unknown  among  the  Ger- 
man population  and  Churches  of  Pennsylvania. 
How  well  adapted  Albright  was  as  an  instrument 
in  the  hand  of  God  to  begin  this  work,  we  have 
already  seen.  But  he  needed  vigorous  help  in 
order  to  awaken  sinners  and  dispel  the  great 
moral  darkness,  and  for  this  purpose  the  Lord 
gave  him  that  mighty  man  of  God,  John  Walter, 
before  whose  preaching  in  the  demonstration  of 
the  Spirit,  hardly  any  one  could  stand.  What 
Walter  almost  entirely  lacked  in  business  tact  and 
executive  ability,  Albright  possessed  in  a  large 
measure.  But  as  Albright  soon  broke  down  and 
died,  the  Lord  meanwhile  had  made  provision  for 
the  continuation  and  better  prosecution  of  the  work, 
by  calling  George  Miller,  who  was  not  only  a 
powerful  preacher,  but  an  excellent  leader,  and 
who  also  had  considerable  ability  as  a  writer,  »so 
that  he  could  compile  a  Discipline,  "Practical 
Christianity,"  etc.,  for  the  better  organization  and 
promotion  of  the  work,  which  proved  a  great 
blessing  to  the  Association. 

Meanwhile  also  poetical  gifts  were  developed  in 
John  Walter,  so  that  he  issued  the  first  Hymn- 
Book  for  the  Association  in  1810.  But  as  both 
Miller  and  Walter  soon  became  physically  unable 
to  render  much  service,  the  Lord  raised  up  John 


SUMMARY  APPENDIX. 


325 


Dreisbach,  who  was  filled  with  the  love  of  Christ 
and  holy  zeal  to  apply  his  manifold  gifts  in  preach- 
ing, writing,  supervising  and  guiding  the  work, 
up  to  the  time  when  the  Lord  chose  other  men  for 
the  further  promotion  of  his  cause.  How  true 
was  the  assertion  which  Albright  made  to  Dreis- 
bach  shortly  before  his  departure :  "  Brother  John, 
if  it  is  God's  will  for  you  to  be  and  remain  an 
independent  organization,  he  will  take  care  of  you 
also  in  this  particular;  men  will  be  called  of  God 
who  will  accomplish  what  I  am  unable  to  do. 
The  matter  is  in  the  hands  of  God ;  it  is  his  cause, 
and  he  will  also  take  care  of  it."  The  Lord  be 
praised,  it  has  been  done !  The  Evangelical  Asso- 
ciation is  a  ivork  of  God!  "A^  little  one  shall 
become  a  thousand^  and  a  small  one  a  strong  nation: 
/,  the  Lord^  will  hasten  it  in  his  time!'  (Isa.  60.  22.) 
The  Prophet  Isaiah  looked  in  the  spirit  into  the 
future,  when  the  Lord  would  accomplish  this  "in 
his  time."  This  prophecy  eventually  pointed  in 
the  direction  where  we  find  its  fulfillment.  Some 
prophecies  undoubtedly  are  being  repeatedly  ful- 
filled. The  Evangelical  Association  can  well  be 
called  the  "smallest"  among  her  sister  Churches 
for  many  reasons : 

1.  Relative  to  her  founder.  In  respect  to 
scholastic  attainments  he  was  an  entirely  unedu- 
cated man — instead  of  having  a  diploma  from 
some  high  school,  he  was  only  "  a  tiler."  The 


326 


SUMMART  APPENDIX, 


founders  of  other  Churches  were  pious  men,  but 
also  scholars,  such  as  Luther,  Zwingli,  Melanchton, 
Calvin,  Menno  Simon,  Wesley,  Otterbein  and 
others. 

2.  With  respect  to  her  ordination.  All  other 
religious  denominations  of  importance  claim  in  one 
way  or  other,  directly  or  indirectly,  to  stand  con- 
nected more  or  less  with  the  so-called  "apostolic 
succession."  The  ordination  of  our  Church  is  sim- 
ilar to  that  recorded  in  Acts  13.  1-3,  where  no 
apostle  was  present.  Because  the  ordination  of 
the  ministers  of  the  Evangelical  Association  is  of 
such  a  nature,  a  Synod  composed  of  so-called 
highly  educated  men  unanimously  resolved  that 
the  Evangelical  Association  did  not  belong  to  the 
Christian  Church  —  her  ordination  being  invalid, 
and,  accordingly,  was  thrown  overboard  by  this 
resolution ! 

3.  Relative  to  her  ministry  in  general.  As 
Albright  was  a  tiler,  Walter  a  mechanic.  Miller  a 
millwright,  Dreisbach  a  farmer,  so  up  to  the 
present  time  most  all  of  her  preachers  had  been 
mechanics  or  farmers,  and  hence  were  considered 
by  the  world  and  some  others  "unlearned  and 
ignorant  men,"  Acts  4.  13,  while  other  Churches- 
had  hosts  of  "  Doctors  of  Divinity ! " 

4.  With  reference  to  her  membership  she  was 
for  a  long  time  the  smallest — but  behold!  (1) 


SUMMARY  APPENDIX. 


327 


She  has  becomu  "  a  thousand/'  viz.:  an  mdefinitely 
large  number.  Nothing  astonished  the  sainted 
Father  Dreisbach  more  than  this  increase.  She 
counts  now  more  than  one  hundred  thousand  mem- 
bers. If  the  great  host  that  have  died  triumph-. 
antly  since  1800,  and  the  other  great  host,  wlio 
on  account  of  the  force  of  circumstances  have 
united  with  other  reUgious  denominations,  were 
added  to  the  number,  they  would  make  fifty 
thousand  more  !  And  daily  the  numbers  are  being 
increased.  (2)  A  ••strong  nation"  has  grown  out 
of  it.  a)  Through  a  well  disciplined  organization 
and  sj'stematic  prosecution  of  the  work;  through 
prayer,  liberal  giving  and  powerful  preaching. 
Each  member — also  the  sisters,  as  did  Moses'  sister 
—  can  use  his  influence  for  the  work  of  God.  h) 
An  itinerant  and  popular  ministry,  that  goes  out 
to  seek  the  lost — that  denies  itself  for  Jesus  and 
for  souls,  and,  clothed  with  power  from  on  high, 
constrained  by  the  love  of  Christ,  achieves  one 
victory  after  another,  and  saves  souls!  c)  Mis- 
sionary operations  that  extend  over  a  great  por- 
tion of  North  America,  into  Germany,  Switzerland 
and  Japan,  and  which  daily  press  forward !  d) 
A  thriAdng  Publishing  House,  and  a  literature  that 
is  excelled  by  few.  e)  Promising  educational 
institutions,  f)  But  above  all  the  presence  and 
operation  of  the  Holy  Ghost  in  the  awakening 
and  conversion  of  sinners,  and  the  sanctification  of 


328 


SUMMARY  APPENDIX 


believers,  whereby  the  divine  sanction  and  confir- 
mation is  impressed  upon  the  work. 

And  this  hath  God  wrought  —  not  great  scholar- 
ship, not  high  social  position  and  great  riches,  not 
honor  among  men  and  the  applause  of  the  world. 
'•In  his  time" — in  the  land  of  freedom  into  which 
immigration  is  pouring,  where  a  variety  of  means 
and  resources  are  proffered,  where  development 
and  progress  prevail  as  nowhere  else  upon  earth — 
and  where  "the  field  is  white  for  the  harvest." 
"  Hasten  " — quickly  the  Lord  will  accomplish  this ; 
— yes,  this  word  "hasten"  characterizes  peculiarly 
the  progression  of  this  work. 

The  Evangelical  Association  is  a  work  of  God, 
and  she  has  a  great  and  highly  important  mission 
to  fulfill.  But  she  can  fulfill  this  mission  only  by 
proclaiming  everywhere  the  pure  Bible-doctrine 
which  God  has  given  her  through  the  fathers; 
and  does  constantly  insist  upon  true  repentance, 
regeneration  through  faith,  true  sanctification  of 
heart  and  life,  and  avoids  compromise  wdth  and 
conformity  to  the  world,  and  does  not  follow  in  the 
footsteps  of  10  or  Idly 'minded  Churches;  —  for  her 
calling  was  evidently  from  the  beginning  to  dissem- 
inate true,  living  and  practical  religion,  yea,  to 
propagate  the  Spirit  and  life  of  Jesus  Christ,  both 
internally  and  externally  among  degenerated 
Churches.  If  this  calling  is  not  heeded,  and  this 
fruit  is  not  produced,  and  only  the  leaves  of  a 


SUMMARY  APPENDIX. 


329 


hollow  profession  and  a  worldly  form  of  religious 
worship  remain,  then  surely  the  divine  curse  will 
oome  upon  the  unfruitful  fig-tree,  and  it  ivill  wither 
doion  to  its  roots  ! 

May  the  Spirit,  who  rested  upon  Albright, 
Walter,  Miller,  Dreisbach,  Seybert,  and  many  of 
the  fathers,  and  operated  so  mightily  through 
them,  be  poured  out  upon  the  preachers  and 
members  of  the  Evangelical  Association  in  a 
'double  measure,  even  unto  the  end  of  time ! 


AMEN. 


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